If you’re a teacher, you’re a planner. But when it comes to Summer, most of us are ready to put the planners away and enjoy some well-deserved time away from school. Some of us may be thinking about the projects we have been putting off until we had more time and thinking about how we can best use our limited time in summer. While we all deserve a break (especially this year), it’s also a good idea to think about what will make you feel the most rested AND the most productive as you enjoy some time away from school.

Here’s how to do some planning for summer.

1 – make a giant brain dump list of all the things you want to do this summer. It can include necessary chores (like getting a mammogram or cleaning out closets) but it’s good to also include all the things you want to do in the summer (enjoy a beach vacation, spend time at the pool or the lake, go hiking in the mountains).

This is also a great thing to do with your kids if they are home during the summer. What makes them feel like it’s really summertime? What do they look forward to doing? Include their “bucket list” items on your brain dump list.

Don’t forget to include other things you enjoy doing in the summer like catching up on movies or Netflix, reading books, having lunch or drinks with friends. Everything counts! Remember that if you don’t schedule it, you might forget about it or it might not get done.

Here are some fun tools to help you make your lists:

summer journal

flair pens

stickers

2 – after you have listed every possible thing you can think of, start categorizing the items. What needs to be done at home? What appointments need to be scheduled? When are you hoping to travel? What events have already been scheduled? (Summer camps, Bible school, Teaching Summer School, etc.)

3 – list your weeks of summer with some space in between the dates.

4 – list items on the already set dates (scheduled events, vacation dates, medical appointments, etc.).

beach toys

cornhole set

smores maker

5 – start filling in the items that can only be done at home for the dates when you will be home.

pantry organizer

closet organizer

toy organizer

6 – make sure you sprinkle in some summer fun activities, even for the weeks that have a lot of chores or home tasks!

pool toys

patio string lights

Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

The Lost & Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

The Social Graces by Renee Rosen

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Do Less by Kate Northrup

The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi

7 – now as you glance over each week’s lists, look for where you may have overscheduled yourself or where you have too many items that can possibly be done during that time frame. Are there items you could rearrange or delete altogether? (Teaching summer school and helping with Bible school got deleted for me this year. That may not be the case every year, but this year it just felt like too much.)

8 – as you look at your weekly to-do list, remember to check this summer planning list for what you want to do or accomplish during that particular week.

The goal here isn’t to schedule yourself like an airport runway. The goal is to build in all the things you want and need to do so that you feel the most rested AND as productive as you want to be.

Take care of yourself and have the best summer ever!