5 ways to avoid summer burnout
When you think of summer, what do you picture?
Long days full of sunshine?
Trips to the beach or the pool?
Spending time with family and friends?
Dining al fresco at backyard barbecues and parties.
Celebrating with brides and grooms at their weddings.
Summer is the season most closely related to the idea of sitting back, relaxing and having fun.
Even though we’re only officially starting the summer season today, many of us have been in summer mode since Memorial Day Weekend and you might already be experiencing some of the symptoms of summer burnout.
What is summer burnout?
Feelings of exhaustion, depletion, lack of focus and motivation caused by the added pressures of the summer season.
What contributes to summer burnout?
Increased heat: the increased heat and humidity makes our body want to move more slowly and makes us feel lethargic. Since the days are longer our body often doesn't get much of a reprieve from the heat overnight, which can become very taxing on our system, especially as we get into the ”dog days of summer”.
Packed social calendars: The summer is filled with increased opportunities for socializing, events and travel, which means we’re often busier now than at any other time of the year, a pace that goes directly against our body's desire to move more slowly and enjoy our time in a luxurious fashion.
Trying to juggle work and play: with summer comes vacation and a plethora of other reasons to travel meaning less time in the office/working while still having the same amount of tasks to complete each week. It can feel hard or stressful to completely unplug without feeling anxiety or worry about what will be there when you get back.
Perfectionism: whether it’s planning a vacation, hosting some friends for game night or finishing that work project, it can be easy for anyone who’s a high achiever to feel like they have to give 110%. We're not all Martha Stewart when it comes to entertaining, but sometimes we (and others) expect us to be.
School's out: with kids being out of school that increases the stress on a parent to juggle summer camp schedules or activities, coordinate childcare or entertain the kids while they spend more time at home.
Here are 5 ways to reduce summer burnout and get the most out of your summer...
Delegate: this is the one I probably need to practice the most. We don’t have to do it all and often when we try we quickly realize something has to give. Protect your health while also allowing yourself to spend your time and energy on the things you WANT to do by delegating those things you don’t NEED to or LIKE to do. This can be to colleagues, family members, or even hiring someone. I like to take advantage of grocery and laundry delivery.
Say no: we don’t have to say yes to every opportunity that comes our way and for many of us it’s actually part of our life’s journey to recognize what opportunities are aligned for us. When you say no to the things that don’t light you up you then have more time and energy to do the things that do. Plus, it’s all about momentum. When we spend time and energy on things we’re not excited about, it only depletes us further. And when we spend time and energy on things we enjoy, it increases our energy.
Incorporate rest and sleep: often all of the things that contribute to burnout also contribute to us getting less sleep or less quality sleep. Just because we’re busier and the days are longer doesn’t mean our bodies have the capacity to go non-stop from sunset to sunrise (and beyond). You may be able to get away with less sleep in the summer, but if you’re feeling tired, try increasing the hours of sleep you’re getting and/or incorporating periods of rest into your days.
Prioritize and set boundaries: saying no is one of the ways to prioritize and set boundaries, but creating parameters with your tech, when you check and respond to email, what hours you work, how long you spend on social media, playing games or watching videos- is feeling empowered about how you spend your time and energy.
Be all in on those things you say yes to: once you’ve prioritized and are saying yes to the things you enjoy and that light you up, be all in. It’s a complete waste of energy to be physically in one place while mentally thinking about something else you “should” be doing or wishing you were somewhere else. And it’s also disrespectful to the people who are choosing to be there and present with you.
Wishing you a relaxing, fun and luxurious summer!
