Summer Is Here. But Have You Arrived?
Key Takeaways
- Summer often feels hectic, leading high achievers to manage rather than enjoy the season.
- Recognize signs you might need a reset, such as feeling tired, irritable, or guilty about not being productive.
- Reflect on what fills your time, drains your energy, and what you genuinely want more of this summer.
- Small changes like dedicated rest, outdoor time, and family activities can prevent burnout.
- Your value isn’t tied to productivity; check in with yourself and notice your needs as summer progresses.
Kids are out of school, college kids are home. Often at the beginning of summer, we imagine things will slow down. We will spend more time outside, take a vacation, reconnect with family and finally feel less stressed.
And yet, here we are.
Packed calendars, inbox that is still growing, a to-do list that somehow has followed us into June and July.
If you’re a high achiever, summer can easily become another season to manage rather than a season to experience. That’s why now is a good time for a simple question:
How are you really doing?
Not how productive you’ve been.
Not how many goals you’ve accomplished.
How are you feeling?
Signs You Might Need a Reset
A mid-summer reset my be beneficial to you if:
- You’re feeling tired even after resting
- You’re more irritable than usual
- You’re rushing through family time
- You’re constantly thinking about what’s next
- You’re struggling to enjoy things you normally enjoy
- You feel guilty when you’re not being productive
These aren’t personal failures. They are signs that your nervous system is on overload and is carrying more than it was designed to hold. It’s time to ask yourself three questions:
1. What Has Been Filling My Time?
Look at the past month and honestly evaluate how much of your time as gone toward work, responsibilities, obligations, recovery, joy. You don’t need to be perfect but having the awareness of where your time is going can reveal where adjustments need to be made.
2. What Has Been Draining My Energy?
Burnout doesn’t just happen because you are doing too much. It can also be caused by carrying too much mentally.
Ask yourself:
- What worries am I holding?
- What expectations am I trying to meet?
- What pressure am I putting on myself?
Naming the burden is often the first step toward lightening it.
3. What Do I Want More Of This Summer?
This is not what you should do. This is what do you genuinely want more of?
- Time outdoors
- Family connection
- Quiet mornings
- Exercise
- Creativity
- Rest
- Fun
Derek Berberian, MD and expert contributor at North Jersey Health & Wellness talks about the importance of a mid-summer reset in his article “Beyond the Bell: Why Summer Is the Best Time for a Mental Health ‘Reset’”.
Small Changes Count
You don’t need to overhaul your life to prevent burnout, you simply need: one evening with no work, an afternoon outside, a family activity without distractions and boundaries that protect your energy.
Small changes repeated consistently often create the biggest shifts.
A Reminder for High Achievers
Your value isn’t determined by how much you accomplish this summer. To be successful, you don’t have to maximize every moment, optimize every experience. Nor do you have to earn rest.
As you head into July, consider this your invitation to check in with yourself. Not to judge what you have done but to notice what you need. The second half of summer is still ahead.
If you need help finding balance in your life, contact us to learn more about our mental health services.
