Finding Motivation at the End of Summer

When it comes to summer I start out really strong – plans, structure, solid routines. Every year, without fail, it all fizzles out by August. Then we get really lazy and spend our days doing basically nothing. Sometimes pure laziness is great, but when back to school is just a couple of weeks away it can mean a brutal start as we force ourselves back into all of the routines and responsibilities that come with it.

This year I’m trying really hard to make sure that doesn’t happen. For one thing, I’ve planned with this trend in mind. I started the summer with a little less structure and made sure that our later summer days are full of the activities that will require more planning, but are also more fun so we really want to do them! The next couple of weeks are full of day trips to the zoo, museums, beach days, and special projects. I’ve also built in some days with absolutely noting so that we can shuffle our schedule as needed.

This time of year can be a real challenge. I want to squeeze every last bit out of the summer, but I also know that I need to set the whole family up for success when school starts. It can make the days feel a little bit chaotic as we do the summer fun one day and school shopping the next. I try to lean into my tried and true organization strategies – making lists, using my planner, and having notes in my phone for just about everything. Being able to lean on the same techniques that I regularly use throughout the year helps me stay on track and feel like I’m in control of every situation.

There really is no magic answer, but I’m trying to approach these last few summer days the same way that I would the rest of the year. Taking down time when we need it, making sure we have fun things to look forward to, and planning ahead.