It Happened Again. The Summer Slump Got Me.

The other day on Instagram I mentioned that I was deep in my annual summer slump. It’s something I forget about every year until it rolls around and I feel cranky and tired and completely over everything and I can’t put a finger on why.

I thought maybe I was the only one who feels this way every year, but the messages quickly started rolling in. It was clear that I’m not alone. Less than 24 hours later I started seeing people mentioning the “dog days of summer” all over the place, and I realized I’ve never thought much about that phrase but it’s exactly what I’m experiencing. We’ve reached the hottest, most humid time of the year, we haven’t had a second to think a real adult thought in nearly two months, and things just feel hard.

Last night I was laying in bed reviewing my day and I realized how out of touch I feel right now. At the end of the day I often realize I spent more time zoning out or distracting myself that I did really sinking into my body and enjoying the day. Everything starts to blur together a little bit and it’s hard to remember what I actually did that day.

I used to get really hard on myself when this feeling crept in every year. Why can’t I just pull myself together and be productive? Why am I so tired? Why can’t I just be more present and enjoy the day?

I still beat myself up a little (if you catch me yawning today it’s because I was up half the night mulling it all over), but I’ve learned that this is just part of the rhythm of the year. It happens - and not just to me! It’s normal to feel drained and out of sorts when your entire routine has been thrown off for months and you’re still weeks away from school starting back up. Summer is expensive and overwhelming and this is about the time of year when the kids start to get extra whiny and needy. The bickering never ends, and it’s nearly impossible to feel like a fully functioning human when you’ve broken up 24 fights about absolutely nothing before 10 AM.

Most years I tend to just power through and survive from this point until school start back up in August. But, we’ve still got a solid three and a half weeks of summer left and that feels like a long time to just push through. So, I’ve been thinking about what I can do to shake off the summer slump and truly embrace these last few weeks of summer.

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far.

1. Pause and enjoy the kids every single day. Sure, we hang out together all day every day right now, but I don’t always take the time to be with them. We might watch a Young Sheldon after dinner or play a quick round of Mario Kart, but I’m not always intentional about setting aside all of the distractions and soaking them up. It doesn’t have to be big - a quick walk to the library. A visit to the park. A round of cards while dinner cooks. Even just a few minutes jumping into whatever they’re doing and being present with them. This one is all about the mindset (No phones! Be in the moment!) and requires a lot of intentionality, but I know it’ll make the biggest difference.

2. Give myself grace with my work load. I get a little better at this every single summer as I continue to practice, but I can be a bit of a drill sergeant towards myself when it comes to getting things done. However, summer should be a time for slowing down - and that’s okay! Instead of trying to keep a “normal” schedule, I’m trying to lean into taking breaks midday to read, pausing to take the dog on a walk, or closing the laptop early to watch the kids jump on the trampoline. The work will be there tomorrow.

3. More music, more candles. One of the littlest things I can do to make my home feel cozier and my brain feel quieter is to play some music and light a candle. Dancing in the kitchen while I cook dinner does something wonderful to my nervous system. Turning the tv off and turning on some music has some sort of magic power over me that I can’t explain, but it works. Adding in a candle (this one is my summer favorite) reminds me that being intentional about my days feels good. It helps me sink into the moment and get out my head in a matter of seconds.

4. Create a rhythm. One of the reasons this part of summer gets so hard for us is that we’re a family that thrives on routine - and there is no routine right now. So, creating some summer rhythms that mimic the flow of our normal weeks can help us feel more grounded. It doesn’t have to be serious, either! Last year, we played Mario Kart every single night before bed and it was the most special summer tradition. This year, we’ve all been piling into my bed for a few minutes while Corey and I play Zelda and it’s equally special. Things like having a pizza night, going to grab gas station treats (our favorite!) every Friday to kick off the weekend, or taking a morning walk every day will create a sense of routine that we all need right now.

5. Plan a little adventure. Having something to look forward to can make a huge difference. If you’ve got the budget for a quick weekend away, that’s the perfect way to break up a summer slump. But if you (like us!) are feeling a little tired of spending money right now (summer is expensiveeeee), it doesn’t have to be that big. Visit a new pool. Go to a local water park. Try a new restaurant or take a day trip to visit an out-of-town friend! Anything that breaks up the day-to-day and reminds you that summer is special will do the trick.