Three Tips to Stay Sane This Summer

Are you ready for summer “break” or are you like me and in shock that we’re in the last week of May? I still have kids wanting to wear their cozy, winter pants to childcare. Work is still just as plentiful as it was several months ago when I was telling myself I just needed to make it through the next couple of weeks.

I remember telling a group of coworkers last fall that my goal for the upcoming holiday season was to just survive somehow. And honestly, that feeling is still there. The work is still there. The exhaustion is still there. The kids are still there. The messy house is still there. The overflowing desk full of papers that need to be dealt with is still there.

Then, we throw in the mix all the end of year parties, graduations, vacation planning, childcare coordinating, family fun activities, summer reading lists, summer snack requests (they always need more snacks, don’t they?), and so on and so forth. It’s no wonder that us mamas are just out here trying not to blow a gasket (figuratively or literally) and stay sane. Maybe that is why May is Mental Health Awareness Month??

Regardless, I wanted to share with you 3 tips for staying sane this summer:

• Start your day off positively. My morning routine is something that I have let slip a little over the last couple of months. The exhaustion has just been so heavy that getting out of bed in the morning any earlier than necessary is just burdensome. However, I see a noticeable difference in my mood and productivity throughout the day when I’ve had a chance to start my mornings off with some quiet time. For me, I like to get up before anyone else, make my coffee, feed the cat, and settle into my oversized chair in my office. While savoring the warm brew, I like to start my quiet time with a short gratitude list of 5 things I’m thankful for that morning. Then, I like to pray and ask God to direct my actions and reactions throughout the coming day. From there, I move into scripture or devotional reading. I do this either from a devotional that I’m currently reading or by simply opening up my Bible to see what God has in store for me. Lastly, I like to spend a few minutes journaling to clear my mind of the clutter that has piled up since the last time I wrote my thoughts and feelings in my journal. Often times, my prayer and journaling times are intermingled as I prefer to prayer through writing in my journal.

• One of the best things we can do for our mental health is to exercise. This is also something I’ve been severely lacking at as of late. Before our children arrived, I liked to be able to get my workouts/runs in before work in the morning. But as I mentioned above, getting out of bed in the morning has gotten increasingly harder as our number of children have increased. As a mama of three now, I often find myself awake in the middle of the night dealing with one child or another. Getting out of bed at 5am to exercise is about the last thing I want to do. But I know that I know that I know getting exercise is one of the surest ways for me to boost my mental health for the better. My husband and I have talked about getting up together in the mornings to hold each other accountable for working out. We can alternate days so someone is always home with the kids while the other is exercising. And on the weekends, we are making a point of getting out and doing at least one adventure with the kids. This weekend, we went to the zoo and walked a bunch! Did it help them sleep better? Not really. Did it help my mood and energy levels? You betcha!

• Another thing to consider as you’re running from one family fun activity to another in the middle of working and regular life is what really matters at the end of the day. Was the smile on your son’s face worth the time you spent with him outside instead of doing dishes? Yes! Was the shopping trip to Target with your daughter draining to your bank account? Probably. Did she leave happy that she was able to help you pick out coloring books and activities for your upcoming roadtrip? For sure. Friend, what really matters to you and your family at the end of the day? Ask your husband. Ask your kids. Their answers may surprise you. Your hubby may say he just wants to spend more quality time with you and that the dishes can wait. Your kids may say they want your undivided attention and that they don’t care if they clothes are folded and put away. You may say, as long as you have clean clothes to wear to work, food in the fridge to eat, and a happy, healthy family, you’re good to go. Friend, do what matters most to you and your family this summer. And fit in the rest of the monotony on another day.

As we near the end of Mental Health Awareness Month, now is a great time to do a check-in with yourself and with your friends and family. Questions you can ask yourself or others include:

1. On a scale from 1 to 10, how are you feeling today?
2. If you could change anything about what is happening in your life right now, what would you change?
3. What matters most to you as we enter into this summer season of instability?
4. Do you need help with anything over the next few weeks?
5. How can you be encouraged today and in the coming weeks?