Designing a Slow Summer: How to Plan with Intention (and Joy)

Summer is supposed to be the season of ease, right?

Warm days, relaxed rhythms, time to finally breathe.

But if you’re anything like me—and like so many women I work with—summer often feels like… more.

More pressure.
More expectations.
More people needing you all at once.

And somehow, less space for yourself.

Because when the kids are suddenly home, routines go out the window, and the “bucket list” posts start rolling in, it can feel like you're failing if you're not doing summer right.

Here’s the truth:
Summer doesn’t have to be a sprint.
You don’t have to do it all.
And you get to design this season around your capacity—not just your calendar.

When Summer Feels Like Too Much

There’s a story we’re sold: that summer is easy, breezy, slow by default.

But in reality? It can feel like a pressure cooker.

Especially if you're:

• Still running a business

• Still working full-time

• Managing kids who are home and “bored” every 8 minutes

• Juggling vacations, family events, and expectations

And underneath it all? That heavy guilt.

Guilt for not being fully present.
Guilt for not “soaking it all in.”
Guilt for still needing space when you’re supposed to be making memories.

The cultural pressure to make summer magical can become a source of stress—not joy.

And that’s exactly why designing a slower summer has to be intentional.

Redefining What Summer Gets to Look Like

Summer doesn’t have to be a three-month performance.

It doesn’t have to be all-in, all the time.

It can be soft.
It can be flexible.
It can be responsive to your needs.

Try starting here:

• What am I craving more of this season?

• What am I tired of pretending I have time for?

• Where can I reclaim a little space for myself, even in small ways?

Let this season reflect who you are now—not just who you’re expected to be.

Gentle Ways to Design a Slow Summer

Here are a few ways to move through the season with more intention and less burnout:

• Build rhythms, not routines. Let go of rigid structures. Anchor your days with gentle guideposts instead.

• Plan rest before it’s urgent. Create margin before you hit the wall.

• Choose a word or feeling to guide your summer. Simplicity. Spaciousness. Nourishment. Let it shape your choices.

• Declutter your calendar like you would your closet. Remove what’s outdated, uncomfortable, or just not working.

• Say no to perfect. Say yes to what feels good enough.

• Let presence replace performance. One quiet moment with your kids might matter more than any big trip.

This isn’t about doing nothing.
It’s about doing what matters—with clarity, intention, and care for your capacity.

✨ Want a gentle place to start? My 7-Day Slow Living Challenge offers small, simple shifts to help you reconnect with your own needs and pace.

You’re Still Allowed to Matter—Even in the Summer

Here’s the reminder most women need (and rarely hear):
Your self-care doesn’t take a summer break.
Your dreams don’t have to pause because everyone else needs more from you.
And you don’t need a Pinterest-perfect season to have a meaningful one.

You’re still a person.
With needs. With limits. With desires.

And when you build a summer that honors those things?
That’s where the real joy lives.

💛 Start with The 7-Day Slow Living Challenge if you’re craving a little structure that actually supports you.

Slow isn’t selfish.
It’s sustainable.
And this summer gets to reflect that.