Dr. Mandy Marziaz
June 27 2019
If you are like me, you love summertime!!!! The weather is beautiful, the days are longer, there is plenty to do, and if you live in Colorado, this means hiking, camping, running, playing, etc. Didn’t someone (me) say that getting outside in nature is restorative? Isn’t all this physical activity good for my body? Don’t the longer daylight hours just make you want to stay up late and get up early?
Do you feel overwhelmed trying to add all this to your already busy to do list?!?
Summer can be amazing for all those reasons listed above. The kids are off from school so there are no schedules to adhere to. Summer is time for travel and being outdoors. There is something going on practically every weekend. However, all that can feel overwhelming too.
Especially hard working Moms who are holding down a job and trying to find time/things to entertain the kiddos. Suddenly, summer is exhausting and then we feel guilty that we aren’t enjoying it as we “should.”
Do you feel like planning for the family vacations are super stressful? Do you dread them instead of looking forward to them because you don’t know where you are going to find the time to get ready? Does the thought of hosting one more backyard BBQ stress you out? How will you find time to plan all that and keep the kids entertained and oh wait, find time for yourself because now you have to look good in those summer clothes. Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?
Here are some tips to help you avoid that summer burnout and enjoy your summer because I don’t know about you, but for me, if I’m completely burned out, even a camping trip is not enjoyable. And camping is where I get my Zen on!!!!!
- Let’s start simple…change your language. Don’t call it burnout…don’t call it busy…say my life is full. Say it again…and again….and again. It has a different energy to it. Your life really is just full…full of freaking awesome stuff to do and that is a good problem to have.
- Be mindful of how you spend your time. You don’t have to overdo the backyard BBQ or the food for the camping trip. You don’t have to have every second planned out with stuff to do. Sometimes the simple can be fun too. Some of my best childhood memories were hiking with my grandmother in local parks in the summer or day tripping it to the Jersey shore (no, it’s NOT like the TV show lol). Simple, free (or relatively cheap) and we didn’t have to go crazy planning it. Your kids will enjoy the experience that much more if you are present with them and not too exhausted.
- Once you paired down that to do list and simplified your life a little, take some time for you. Whatever it is that nourishes you. If that is watching Netflix on a Sunday afternoon for an hour, do it. If that is sitting at a campsite and reading a book, do it. Life doesn’t have to be crazy or constantly planned out. Sometimes, the most nourishing thing I can do is take a walk around my neighborhood. I get some down time, quiet time, and nature time. I don’t always have to plan an 8 hour hike to get that. You do you…don’t worry about what everybody else’s social media says.
And remember, all that running around and being stressed out takes a toll on your nervous system and since your nervous system controls EVERYTHING in your body, it takes a toll on your health. Come in this summer and get your nervous system checked for interference. Did you know that a healthy, functioning nervous system helps you adapt to the stress in your life better? It’s that simple…get adjusted…deal with life…sign me up!!!!!
And with that, enjoy the summer!!!!
