Do you have trouble creating summer routine days? Summer is meant to be a relaxing time of the year filled with fun activities, holidays, and warm afternoons spent soaking up the sun on the beach. However, summer is my least productive season (and Iโm a productivity NUT, so thatโs saying a lot!).
Things just donโt get done and, before you know it, the summer has ended and all you have to show for it is a great tan but not much else. When we go head first into summer without a second thought about routines or schedules, we often end up feeling bored because we donโt know what to do with our time.
Iโm not saying you should have a structured plan and organize every little detail of your summer, but it wouldnโt hurt to have a few routine days that you can use sparingly throughout the summer.
I have five different routine days for the summer that Iโd like to share with you:
1. Help & Support Day
If you have kids, you need a day off. Itโs as simple as that. Yes, we love our children, and weโd do anything for them, but sometimes we need some time for ourselves โ a bit of ME time is good for you!
Iโm a full-time working mom with two teenagers and just last summer, I hired a nanny. I know what youโre thinking, โWhy on earth did you hire a nanny for two teenagers?โ
Well, hereโs why:
Reason 1: There was a lot of random driving that needed doing last summer and I didnโt have the time to drive my kids around. So, the person I hired to help me out would drive my kids to wherever they wanted to go and I was able to concentrate on work without any interruptions โ success!
Reason 2: I had a lot of household chores and projects I wanted to be done, but had no time to get to. She was able to scan all of my scrapbooks, do the dishes, clean the kitchen, and do the laundry โ and it was fantastic!
If youโre not a mom, this probably sounds ridiculous. But if you ARE a mom, you might be thinkingโฆ โbrilliant โ I NEED THIS!โ
When I was a teenager, I worked as a babysitter. Before the summer kicked off, I would approach the parents I worked for and ask them if they wanted a day to themselves. I would be happy to look after their kids while they got their hair done (because it was the 80โs and hair was literally everything back then) and when the momโs heard this, they thought it was a genius idea.
I created a desire in them that they didnโt even know existed! Not to boast, but I was basically an entrepreneur from birth.
So, when I became a mom, I was looking for someone who would sell the same services as I did โ and I found them!
2. Pool Day
Who doesnโt love a pool day? Whether youโre practicing your backstroke or soaking up the sunshine on a lounger, everyone loves a good pool day in the summer.
Most pools open between 10 am and noon, so you have most of the morning to do whatever you like, and the kids can have their own independent time, too.
When itโs time to go to the pool, pack your swimwear, towels, and whatever else you need to bring with you and go out and enjoy the day as a family!
Remember, the pool tends to zap up all of your energy and brain power, so you probably wonโt have the energy to get much done when you get home. Take it easy and order some pizza to finish the day off in style!
3. Errand Day
You can eliminate a lot of time from an errand day by just buying things online like I do. You can shop for groceries online as well, so this might be a good option for you if you donโt feel like pushing a cart through a store.
Youโll probably need at least one or two errand days over the summer. Some of you may need an errand day each week, while others will need just one errand day per month.
The best way to prepare for errand day is to create a list of what needs to be done and check off each task as you go.
4. Home Day
This is my favorite kind of day where you can stay home and do whatever you like with your time โ itโs paradise!
I usually like to focus on one of my larger projects on a home day because Iโve got plenty of time to get it done. However, thereโs nothing worse than enjoying your home day and having someone tell you that you need to get up and leave the house. Thatโs the worst, isnโt it?
Avoid this scenario by telling everybody itโs a home day. Make sure they know that you have no intention of driving them around the country or to McDonaldโs for some fast food (unless you change your mind, in which case, thatโs perfectly fine!).
One of the best ways to make a home day super successful is to introduce your kids to a new activity. This can be anything from a new subscription box to a science kit or homemade play dough.
I love play dough, and I often make homemade play dough that kids of all ages (including me) like to play with. Itโs a creative pastime and it doesnโt cost a lot of money, which makes it perfect for a low-key day at home!
Hereโs my homemade play dough recipe you can try for yourself:
5. Big Event Day
A big event day is basically a day spent outside of the house doing something BIG. This can be anything from the amusement park to the zoo. Itโs always a good idea to plan for the big event day the night before it actually happens.
If youโre going to be traveling, make sure to fill your car with gas in advance. You should also pack and plan everything youโll need for the big event day, such as snacks, food, etc.
Each of these summer routine days is designed to give you some inspiration and guidance if youโre struggling to be productive over the summer months. I hope you found it helpful and you can use some (if not all) of these routine days this summer!