How to Survive Summer
it's easy, just change your entire way of thinking!
I knew this summer was going to be a challenging one. Not in the same way last summer’s was (“at least we’re not picketing!” I kept joking with friends when I’d describe what was in store), but I knew I was going to be balancing A LOT while still dealing with a lot of uncertainty on all fronts (career, finances, the freaking world).
I didn’t want to spend money on summer camp this year. I was not alone— most parents I know opted out of a multi-month summer camp because the costs were simply too high (“summer camp in this economy? Who do we think we are?!”). But even if I could afford it, my son is only six once, and six happens to be a very fun age.
I’m also in a unique position to be working completely remotely and doing something that doesn’t require all my energy, so I can also take him to Chuck E Cheese for a few hours, get some work done, then take him to the pool after and actually get to relax and enjoy with him. It’s kind of a dream if I’m being honest.
But here’s the reality: The difficult part wasn’t balancing the workload with everything else, the difficult part was actually letting myself enjoy the downtime when I had it. The thing about survival mode, is you don’t really know how to shut it off, I guess.
Between pandemic, divorce, co-parenting, strike, career upheaval (and those are the big ones I feel like sharing!)… I’ve been in survival mode for a long fucking time now. For everyone who has asked, “How does she do it?!” Turns out, not well. Carrying that amount of *shit* is unsustainable. I went to a ton of doctors and specialists in the past year and the one overlapping diagnosis continued to be: “It sounds like you’re pretty stressed.”
And yeah, despite meditating daily, yoga, pilates, journaling, breath-work, self-care, self-awareness… I couldn’t even let myself relax in a freaking swimming pool on a summer day.
Remember that post about reframing a few weeks back? That came from a serious place of self-reflection. I hate to be dramatic, but that post may have saved this summer (and my life?!)
Since then, I’ve had to actually “schedule leisure time” into my daily to-do list, but it’s happening. I’m reading more, I’m worrying less, and I’m watching so much Love Island. TLDR: I’m allowing myself to enjoy relaxing again!
I realized I’m an adult who still needs a summer vacation, and that’s okay. Thankfully, I’ve created a life where I can have one. This summer is going to look a lot different, but maybe that’s exactly what I need right now. Maybe we should all embrace giving ourselves a little break— but a genuine one, without guilt.