Let’s be honest: when people say summer is relaxing, they’re probably not the ones packing snacks, applying sunscreen to wiggly kids, or trying to schedule playdates around summer camps.
Because summer, for many moms, isn’t exactly restful.
It’s fun — yes. But also full.
Full of sticky hands, sand everywhere, and constant requests.
And still — you’re probably craving rest.
Not just sleep (although that would be nice), but the kind of rest that lets your shoulders drop, your mind slow down, and your nervous system breathe.
So how do you find that in a season where you’re needed so much?
You redefine it.
You stop chasing the “ideal” break, and instead let rest become something you create in the margins.
Here are 11 small, doable ways to relax this summer — even if your kids are home, the schedule is packed, or you’re already feeling touched out and tired.
1. Sit and actually do nothing
Not scroll. Not plan. Not fold laundry while watching your kids play. Just sit. For five whole minutes. Let your body be still. Let the sun warm your face. Let it count.
2. Lower your standards
Let the dishes sit. Let the toys be everywhere. Let them eat frozen waffles for dinner. You’re not failing — you’re choosing sanity over perfection.
3. Say no without guilt
To the extra BBQ. The weekend away. The playdate you don’t have capacity for. You don’t have to do it all. Protecting your peace is doing something.
4. Choose the easier version
Picnic dinner on the floor instead of cooking. Sprinkler in the backyard instead of a beach day. Netflix instead of Pinterest crafts. Your kids don’t need magic — they need you, relaxed and real.
5. Walk slowly
If you’re out with your kids, don’t rush. Let yourself move at a gentle pace. Notice the breeze. The sounds. Your breath. Let the walk be for you, too.
6. Do one thing alone
Even if it’s just your morning coffee or brushing your teeth with the door closed. Claim a pocket of space that belongs to you, no explanation needed.
7. Let yourself off the hook
Stop trying to make every moment meaningful. Summer isn’t a performance. Your presence is enough.
8. Go outside with no agenda
Not to supervise. Not to multitask. Just to be. Feet in the grass. Eyes on the sky. A few deep breaths can shift your whole day.
9. Ask yourself what you want
Even just once a day. “What would feel good to me right now?” And then — if you can — do that thing.
10. Rest while still being needed
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can stretch while your kids play. Breathe deeply in the carpool line. Listen to music that soothes you while making lunch. Micro-rest counts.
11. Remind yourself: this is allowed
You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to be burnt out to take a break. You’re allowed to pause, even when life is good. Especially when life is good.
Rest doesn’t have to be a destination.
It can be a softening. A slowing down. A quiet rebellion against the pressure to be on all the time.
So if you’re a mom wondering how you’re going to make it through the next two months without falling apart — come back to this list.
Not as a checklist.
But as a permission slip.
You’re allowed to take care of yourself this summer, not just after it’s over.
With you,
Ashley
