Tips to Ease Late Summer Burnout

 

I’ve been really feeling crummy lately. Add to that, no child care with the kids at home (camp is LONG over), exhaustion from far too much activity in July and sinus attacks that increase with heat and humidity and it’s been a LONG summer.

So with more whole weeks to go, a ton of work to do and no week-long vacation this year, how can I ensure I feel better? I woke up this morning feeling a lot better.  Here’s what I did- without realizing -and how you can turn it into a way to pep up if you’re feeling overwhelmed by heat and the kids.

1. Drink Less Alcohol

I always feel like the weekend means kicking back and drinking, you know, wine at night and beer with burger. Not enough to get drunk, but you get tired of seltzer and water. But this weekend, I was too allergic to drink at all, except a little bit with my True Blood viewing last night. It felt really good! I suspect that the dehydrating factor of alcohol is probably a little tougher on our bodies in the summer heat. So cool it without a cooler, if you want to stop feeling run down.

2. Eat Better

I also tend to feel like the weekend is a time to eat lots of JUNK – MEAT & CUPCAKES NOW PLEASE. Really! But this weekend I did the uncharacteristic thing of subbing in smoothies for a heavy dinner, and veggie pizza – and it worked. I really DO feel better. In fact, I just had broccoli fried in GF homemade breadcrumbs with flax in olive oil for lunch. YUM.

3. Get Out and Walk

I know it sounds obvious, but when the heat is high and you are feeling drained, walking is actually the last thing you want to do. I don’t advocate walking outdoors in the high heat or on high allergy alert days, but you can walk indoors. We visited Adventure Aquarium on Saturday and what I liked best is that it was a solid couple of hours of entertaining indoor walking. High heat days are ideal for aquariums, museums, science exhibits, conservatories, historic homes, etc. – and are great for getting the kids’ brain pumping during their summer slump!

4. Enjoy Some Good Fiction

This weekend, I was crazy excited for the the debut of “Outlander” on Starz. I’m actually annoyed by all the articles I’m reading on it. Just sit back and enjoy it for what it is: sexy, fun, scary, dangerous – dang good period drama. OK? It’s so good that my HUSBAND is really looking forward to the next episode a lot, so to all you “chick flick” naysayers – you’re wrong! Plus I spent a good deal of time with my nose in the book  book, “The Glass Kitchen: A Novel of Sisters (my affiliate link),” that I got at Blogger Bash. It’s pretty steamy too, in that subtle way I like on the RARE books I read with, ya know, nookie in them. It’s not very Christian, true, unless you channel it into your husband. And that’s all I’m going to say about the NEXT thing I did to enjoy this weekend!

6. Avoid Conflict

When you let go of conflict, you make room for fun.

This weekend, Chris wanted to do some stuff and go some places I wasn’t into – and avoid places I would have liked to go. I put in a mild effort to change his mind but didn’t press at all, and just went with his wishes. It was a great idea! Not only that, but last time we went to Philly, we had a ginormous fight because our hotel staff was absolutely  *clueless* (the nice way to put it) about recommending gluten-free restaurants. This time, I pulled up the app I had already preloaded and we had a GLORIOUS pizza lunch at Couch Tomato, who offer gluten and vegan options! It rocked. (No, I’m not sure if they cross-contaminate because I’m lightening up on food issues and “avoiding conflict.”)

Not only that, but it’s been something of an EPIC fail to get the kids interested in doing any of their Summer Work. So, I let it go. I’m trying to find more creative ways, like a board game I just got that teaches telling time, and letting Zoe go to bed with her books. Yea, I know, I should be pounding away at the home schooling – but I don’t have the strength, energy or time (somehow, I’m out of time). But I’m letting all that go –  it IS summer, after all, and they DID work at camp. So whatever! I’m enjoying them and they *I hope* are enjoying me. I want to be a happy summer!!

I’m really FIGHTING the urge to say “I suck” or “EPIC FAIL” as I parent my way through a tough summer, but letting go and enjoying the time we have at home is helping.

How do you fight summer brain drain?

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