Your Ultimate 2025 Guide to a Joy-Filled Summer

2025: The Best Summer Ever

When we're feeling overwhelmed, we often dream of holidays. And now that summer's here, you might be feeling the stress from trying to cram in all the fun and joy you've been putting off all year. 

You and your family will remember the small moments from the summer season, which doesn't need to be an extravagant 14-day Mediterranean cruise.

Here are seven practical things you can do to make sure you and your family get the most enjoyment and rest from this short season.

1. Set your intention for summer holidays.
Pick a word or two to describe the summer of your dreams. You're planning the best summer ever, which aligns with the feelings you dream of on those cold and dark January nights. For now, push aside the ideas of what you think you should do or have to do. Allow yourself to dream big here. What do YOU really want?  If you’re doing things you enjoy too, then you’ll be happier, and everyone will feel it!

2. Make a summer must-do list.
Write down the things you HAVE to do. Is there a wedding to attend? A messy cupboard to tackle? A birthday party to plan? If you're like me, your brain can think of 10 years' worth of tasks to put on the list. Remember: prioritising self-care can be high on your list.

3. Downsize the list.
Cross anything off the list that you don't WANT to do. What comes up? Are you afraid of the backlash? Are you worried about what people will think? Will you judge yourself for not doing it? These are the unhelpful thoughts that burn us out, because doing what we don't want to do drains us of our precious time and energy. Can you delegate, even if it won't get done quite as well? What if these things didn't happen at all? Would life still go on? This step is the key to unlocking our awareness about the patterns that keep us stuck in overwhelm.

Overwhelm happens when we're not able to distinguish between what's essential and what's not. 

If we're not able to let go of what's not essential, we will always have too much on our plates and not be focusing on the skills we need to create the necessary change. 

Practicing the discomfort of not meeting our own or other people's expectations is the key to living a balanced life. The idea of constraint is understanding what serves us best and having the confidence to follow through on doing what's in our best interest, not only what's easiest in the moment.

4. Let go of perfection.
We often compare our lives to the highlight reels of others on Instagram or TikTok, but our days are not filtered or curated. Comparing ourselves to others steals our joy, so embrace the messy, the chaotic, and the unscheduled. The more uncomfortable it is, the more we probably need to let go.

5. Involve your family in summer planning.
You may have fantastic ideas in your head, but your family may have other thoughts. They may want to take it easy, have a picnic, or take a trip to the mountains. I love creating a “summer bucket list” where everyone gets to contribute to the family list of things that they really want to do or experience this summer. It doesn't have to be complicated or fully fleshed out, but it can give you ideas for what to make time for or what to do if other plans fall through.

6. Build meaningful connections.
Are there people you want to invite over for a summer BBQ, visit, or have a conversation with? Are you truly enjoying each other when you're out doing fun things? Take advantage of the time you have with people you care about by getting to know them better and giving them your full attention.

7. Plan for downtime.
Not every second of your summer needs to be scheduled. The “slow movement” prioritizes unscheduled time so that you can enjoy spontaneous adventures and relaxation as these opportunities present themselves. Our anxiety often likes us to control our time and experiences, but relaxing into the flow of the day here and there and getting nothing “done” is essential for our nervous system to calm down.

By applying these strategies, busy working moms can transform summer from a season of stress to one filled with joy and connection. 

Remember, summer is not about doing it all — it’s about finding what truly matters and making the most of it. 

Take a deep breath, embrace the sunshine, and let this summer be one to treasure.