It's the Summer - where has my routine gone?

4 minute read

Whether you have children or not, summer always brings a more relaxed rhythm to life. But if you've got kids and you're a few weeks into the school holidays, your normal routine has very likely gone out the window altogether. Whether you're juggling different childcare arrangements, snatching work in pockets of time, or trying to fill long, endless days of entertainment for the whole family — not to mention fielding calls from parents who need a hand, colleagues heading off on holiday, or clients who are away — whether you're employed or running your own business, the neat structure we're all used to in term time has disappeared. And you are not alone.

Perhaps you're feeling out of control, or at best just not quite in control, and wondering how you'll get through the next three or four weeks. Take heart: there's still plenty of summer left and it doesn't need a complete overhaul to feel back on top of things. A few practical shifts are usually all it takes and APDO member Stephanie Rough is here to help you find what might work for you. 

Time block, but loosely

Forget hour-by-hour precision — think in blocks of time instead. Mornings for focused work or admin, afternoons for the kids and trips out, evenings for winding down. Or try theme days: Monday is a chill-at-home, catch-up-on-admin day; Tuesday and Thursday are “fun days” with an activity planned in. Or simply agree on one thing that must get done each day. Sometimes all we need is a little structure to help shape the diary.

If it's not in the calendar, it's not happening

This is the one habit that saves the most stress, and it's never too late to start. Create a calendar everyone can see — get the kids involved in making it or, if you've got teens, hand them the job of setting up shared online calendars for the family (you'll thank yourself in September). Put in the tasks that have to happen, too — school shoes, uniform shopping, the hairdresser, the dentist — but plan something lovely around those essential jobs as well (ice cream or milkshake time afterwards, perhaps?). You might even want a summer bucket list: my youngest made one for us and it's been brilliant for planning things to do — and they don't all need to cost money. Watching the sunrise, making a daisy chain... anyone? Just ensure they find a slot in the diary! 

Reset your expectations for what's left

Whatever “productive” meant a few weeks ago, let it go and decide afresh what it looks like for the rest of the holidays. Comparing where you are now to a normal working week — or even to how organised you felt back in July — is a fast route to feeling like you're failing at something that was never really achievable in the first place. And don't forget the kids can help too. Set them a daily task, with a reward at the end — a bit of screen time or some pocket money. It doesn't all have to fall on you.

Let a few things go

Pick your battles for the remaining weeks. Maybe that's the ironing, maybe it's replying to every email the same day, maybe it's saying no to one more play date invitation. Letting something go on purpose isn't dropping the ball — it's making room for what actually matters right now. That also includes a tidy home: a quick evening tidy-up and one proper reset a week is really all you need. Summer is for getting outside and enjoying life.

Plan ahead

Find a little time to look ahead into September too — sort the diary, get the term dates in, and pencil in a morning or a day for yourself to catch up once the kids are back at school. Plan something to look forward to as well — your next holiday, perhaps! Busy parents hit the ground running in September, and your future self will thank you for a bit of preparation now.

There's still a good stretch of summer left to enjoy, not just survive. Drop the idea that you've “failed” because these last few weeks didn't go to plan. Pick a couple of these to start with, and let the rest go. As I always say to clients, no system is forever — you just need one that works for right now. And if you find you need a little extra help from a professional to get you started or keep you going, check out our members directory here.