Summer is officially here. And if you are anything like me, your whole routine just got flipped upside down overnight.
The school schedule, the drop-offs, the predictable pockets of quiet time? Gone. Now it’s later mornings, louder days, and two boys who need me in a completely different way than they did a few weeks ago.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, there is still a business to run.
If you are not intentional about how you handle this shift, summer can feel like three months of falling behind. So today I want to share exactly what I’m doing this summer to stay consistent in my business without giving up the memories and moments I’ve been looking forward to all year.
Sunday planning is non-negotiable
This one hasn’t changed for me, school year or summer. Every Sunday I sit down for about 20 minutes and map out the week ahead. I look at our family schedule, I plan out my work blocks, and I go into Monday already knowing what we have going on and what I need to get done.
In my Mompreneur Planner I work in three categories: family, work, and personal. Every day I block out when I want to intentionally make each of those happen. It keeps me from waking up on Monday morning already behind.
If you don’t have a planning routine yet, start here. Sunday planning is simple, it’s quick, and it will save you so much mental energy during the week.
Shorter, focused work blocks
The big summer shift for me is letting go of long uninterrupted work sessions during the day. During the school year I can sit down and work for two, three, sometimes four hours at a stretch. That is just not realistic when my boys are home.
So this summer I’m working in 60 to 90 minute focused blocks. And I’m being strategic about when those blocks happen. For me it’s early in the morning before the boys are fully up and watching TV, during quiet time or nap time in the afternoon after we’ve spent all our energy at the park or the pool, and in the evenings after dinner when my husband is home and we are winding down.
There are days when I need more than 90 minutes and I need a few focused hours. On those days I hire a sitter, drop the boys at a family member’s house, or I plan it for the weekend when my husband is home. Like the day I filmed this video. I picked that day on purpose because my husband was home.
So think about your schedule and your windows. Where can you place your work blocks? And honestly, you will get zero judgment from me if a screen has to be the nanny while you are working to provide. I get it. Times are tough and we do what we have to do.
The key is knowing your windows ahead of time and protecting them. When you are in a work block, be ruthless about your focus. Phone down, one task at a time. And carry that same intentionality into your family time. When you are with your kids, be fully with them. Not every day is going to go perfectly, but every day is a new chance to be a little better.
Your morning routine sets everything else up
This has made a huge difference for me this summer. I read The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod and it genuinely changed how I start my days. And no, you do not have to be a morning person for it to work. I am not.
But having something that is mine before the day gets loud, even 20 to 30 minutes, helps me feel grounded and ready instead of reactive. When I skip my morning routine I feel the difference immediately.
My morning routine I’m working toward this summer is waking up around 6:15, reading 10 pages of a nonfiction book, scripture reading, journaling, a little movement, and getting fully dressed for the day. My boys usually wake up around 7 so I have a window if I protect it.
On the days I can’t fit everything in before they wake up, I complete the tasks throughout the day instead. Journaling at lunch, reading during quiet time, a workout at 3pm. I’ve found that even if it takes me all day to get through my morning routine in the margins, I still feel more intentional, more thoughtful, and in a better mental space than when I skip it altogether.
One more thing: I’ve also noticed that when I go to bed watching TV instead of reading or journaling, I don’t sleep as deeply and it’s harder to wake up in the morning. It’s worth looking at your evening routine too, not just your morning.
Let go of the full task list
In the summer, I let go of trying to do everything. My task list looks completely different than it does in September and that is okay.
I pick two, maybe three things that actually move the needle in my business and I make sure those get done first. Everything else either gets batched for later or it waits. This is not slacking. This is being strategic. When you have less time, you have to be more intentional about where that time goes.
In the summer I make fewer appearances on podcasts and in person events. I focus more on back end business work and solo content so I’m not stressed about little ones barging in. Personally, my busy season is fall and winter, so summer is when I prep. If you are in real estate and summer is your busy season, the same principles apply. Intentional work windows, heavy work when your spouse is home, and a solid list of babysitters you can call when you need to be client-facing.
One tip I love for finding flexible sitters: reach out to your local homeschool group. Homeschool teens tend to be available during the day and during the school year, which has been such a great fit for us.
Being intentional about the time you have, planning for it, and then actually executing is the key to making summer work for both your family and your business.
You can have a summer full of wonderful memories with your kids and still keep your business moving. Enjoy your kids screen-free when you are with them. Protect your family time like you protect your work time.
You are doing a great job. Keep taking the next step and strive to be a little better each day.
*What is your biggest challenge when it comes to your business in the summer? Drop it in the comments. You might not be the only one dealing with it and I would love to help.
Happy summer mama!
Taylor Johnson