When we look at our family calendar, we often see it full of meetings, practices, classes and playdates. December is generally a busy month as we close out the year with family gatherings and prepare for winter break from school. However, the end-of-school activities that take place in the month of May can rival December’s load as one of the most fast-paced months.
As you jump from activity to activity, keeping organized and keeping things in perspective can be difficult. “May is a crazy month for us. We have wedding anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s Day, graduations and all of the school parties and field trips for end-of-the-year. I feel like it is our craziest time! It really makes me look forward to summer,” says Kasey Webb, Olathe mom.
Looking forward to the slower pace of summertime can be refreshing. During the summer, we have the opportunity to catch our breath, to take a vacation and gather our thoughts before diving into the schedule and activities of the fall. “Summer is our time to reconnect as a family and loosen the ties,” Elizabeth Maddox, Shawnee mom, says. “We don’t have such a busy schedule and we get to stay up a bit later, enjoy each other and just relax. It is such important time.”
Although summer tantalizes with loads of enjoyable activities, parents need to guard the downtime diligently and not overbook—and maybe even schedule some R&R into each day. According to Psychology Today, the recent advances in technology and connectivity have made it almost impossible for families to slow down. Not only are families facing full calendars, but they are reminded via social media about the activities of their friends and family members and often feel the need to keep up.
“Sometimes it feels like people these days are busy just for the sake of being busy,” says Mary Brown, Kansas City, MO, mom. However, the importance of slowing down, relaxing and even allowing some time for boredom cannot be overlooked. “I know that we function better, each of us and as a family, if we take some time off. If we give ourselves some time to just veg out, we get along better and enjoy the activities we participate in,” says Kim Thomas, Gladstone mom.
So, how do you make sure you don’t overschedule your family during the springtime rush and “lazy” days of summer? Here are a few tips:
Put downtime on the calendar. “In our house, putting it on the calendar is the only way it happens,” says Sarah Wells, Lenexa mom. Look at your schedule and the events you need to attend, then prioritize. Some will be obligations and some events will be enjoyable for everyone. Allow yourself to pick and choose what works for your family, then block off some days to rest and relax in between.
Embrace the boredom. Being bored isn’t all bad! During downtime when no events or activities are scheduled, families must come up with their own entertainment. This can include just relaxing together, watching movies or playing games, or it can be a time when each person engages in his or her own downtime activity. Boredom can inspire creativity and allow each person some time to think about the future, to set goals and to process recent events. Reflecting on your busiest times allows you to recognize what type of events you want to keep on your calendar going forward!
Set yourself up to succeed. There is no reason to put pressure on yourself or your family to keep up an exhausting pace. Go into your busy months with a focus on enjoying each event and making the most of your time. If you set the expectation for everyone that downtime will be included in your planning, everyone will expect and look forward to the time off.
Staying Organized During the Busy Season of Spring
How do you keep organized when the schedule is tight and you also are trying to find time to relax? Here are a few suggestions to help you simplify!
- Create a shared calendar for the family. This can be a shared digital tool or a paper calendar posted in a shared living area.
- Communicate about the extras. Make sure to note when an event requires you to bring food, for the kids to complete an assignment or whether you need to dress formally. This prevents a last-minute panic to get things in place.
- Think ahead. Ask family members to take a look at the shared calendar in advance of a busy week and make any needed changes.
Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three living in Overland Park.