Simplifying Your Summer Routine: Tips for Busy Moms

Summer is a busy time for moms, with kids home from school and endless activities to juggle. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the chaos and looking for ways to simplify your routine? In this post, we’ll share practical tips to help you streamline your summer days, reduce stress, and make the most of this sunny season. Keep reading to discover how you can create a more organized and enjoyable summer for your family.

Simplifying your summer routine is one way you can ensure you don’t feel overwhelmed by chaos and help you focus on making summer time memories that will last a lifetime. Today I’m sharing some of my best tips on how to simplify your summer routine for busy moms.

Importance of Simplifying Routines, Especially During Summer

With your kids out of school and many activities going on, life can get very busy. Simplifying your routine can help reduce stress and make your daily tasks easier to manage.

During summer, schedules often change. Camps, vacations, and outdoor activities can make it hard to stick to regular routines. I know this firsthand!! Every year we had so many fun adventures – everything from camping to weekly picnics at the lake to hikes to kayaking. Planning for fun moments while also keeping a simple routine is possible!

And, by simplifying, you can adjust more easily to these day-to-day or weekly changes. It also helps ensure that important tasks, like meals and chores, still get done on days when you are home without feeling overwhelmed.

Simplified routines give you more time to enjoy summer with your family. Instead of worrying about what needs to be done next, you can spend more time having fun and making memories. And honestly, the older I get the more I realize that life is constantly moving – messes eventually get cleaned up and aren’t something to stress over. 🙂

Here are a few fun Summer Bucket Lists and Printables you might enjoy:

A few of my grandkids as well as my brother-in-law’s grandkids enjoying a summer picnic.

1. Prioritize and Plan Ahead

Setting your priorities helps you focus on what matters most and avoids feeling overwhelmed. By deciding what is most important, you can spend your time wisely.

For instance, if you want to prioritize certain outings or activities during the summer, you may want to streamline your meal planning. If relaxing at home and enjoying the backyard is your biggest priority this summer, you may want to focus on a weekly goal of decluttering or tackling another project. There’s really no right or wrong way to plan your summer. You get to choose what your family’s summer looks like!

Planning summer activities in advance can also be helpful; ensuring you can fit in fun activities without stress.

Make a list of things you want to do and schedule them on a calendar.

Using a family calendar keeps everyone on the same page. I personally use Google Calendar and each family member has access to it. It’s so helpful in knowing who’s up to what and what needs to be planned for in advance.

Write down all activities and plans. This way, everyone knows what to expect and can prepare ahead. It helps prevent conflicts and keeps the family organized.

2. Streamline Your Summer Morning Routine

Creating a simple morning routine makes your day start smoothly. Here are some tips:

Wake Up at the Same Time: Consistent wake-up times help everyone get into a routine. It makes mornings less rushed. Now, having said that, if you have older kids or teens, everyone may want to sleep in and there’s nothing wrong with that! Just know that if you do sleep in, you have less time during the day for fun activities.
Keep Breakfast Simple: Choose easy-to-make breakfasts like cereal, yogurt, or fruit. This speeds up the morning process. Alternatively, if you’re like me and love cooking for your family, making a hearty breakfast is never a bad idea.
Make a Checklist: Write down morning tasks like brushing teeth, getting dressed, and making the bed. This helps everyone remember what to do. When my kids were young we had charts on the wall in their bedrooms as well as in the kitchen or butler’s pantry. It was part of our routine to check off items each day on the checklists!
Involve the Kids: Give children age-appropriate tasks to help with the morning routine. It teaches responsibility and teamwork. Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean kids are off the hook for chores. Chores still need to be done.

My daughters, Hannah and Laura playing in a creek.

3. Simplify Meal Times

Making meals simple saves time and reduces stress. Here are some tips:

Meal Planning: Plan your meals for the week ahead of time. This helps you know what to buy and avoids last-minute decisions. Think about your schedule and plan easy meals for busy days.
Batch Cooking: Cook larger amounts of food and store them for later. This way, you can have quick meals ready to go. An easy way to do this is to simply double your recipes and save or freeze one for later.
Quick Recipes: Choose recipes that are easy and fast to make. Salads, sandwiches, and stir-fries are good options.
Involve Kids: Let kids help with meal prep. It can be fun for them and makes the work go faster.

By simplifying meal times, you can enjoy more time with your family and less time worrying about what to eat.

4. Declutter and Organize

Having a clutter-free home during summer has many benefits. But I know it’s easier said than done – especially with kids in the house.

With less clutter, there’s more room for summer activities. Kids can play indoors without tripping over things, and you can set up fun projects without having to clear space first.

A clutter-free home is much easier to clean, allowing you to quickly wipe surfaces, vacuum, and sweep without moving piles of stuff. This means you can spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying summer! And who doesn’t want that?!

Decluttering isn’t a once and done task. It’s actually something that most families need to do on a daily or weekly basis. There is just so much stuff that comes into our homes on any given day. Here are a few tips:

Start Small: Pick one area to declutter at a time. This could be a drawer, a closet, or a room.
Sort Items: Put things into three piles: keep, donate, and throw away. Only keep what you need and use.
Regular Maintenance: Spend a few minutes each day putting things back in their place. This keeps clutter from building up.

Decluttering and organizing your home makes it a more pleasant place to live and helps you find things quickly.

If you want more help with decluttering be sure to take my 30 Day Course: A Time to Clean!

5. Create a Flexible Daily Schedule

Having a flexible daily schedule helps keep everyone on track without feeling too strict. Here’s how to create one:

Set a Routine: Plan a basic routine that includes key activities like meals, playtime, and bedtime. Sticking to this routine as much as possible provides structure to your day and helps everyone know what to expect. For example, breakfast at 8 AM, outdoor play at 10 AM, and lunch at 12 PM can form a simple and effective framework.
Include Free Time: Make sure to include free time in your schedule. This lets kids have some unplanned playtime and allows you to adjust if plans change. Free time is important for kids to relax and use their imagination. It also gives you a chance to take a break or handle unexpected tasks.
Plan Activities: Schedule fun activities like trips to the park, swimming, or crafts. Try to do these activities at the same time each day so everyone knows what to expect. For instance, you might plan a craft session after lunch or a trip to the pool in the late afternoon. Having these activities planned out helps keep kids entertained and gives them something to look forward to.
Be Flexible: Be ready to change plans if needed. If something unexpected comes up, adjust your schedule. The goal is to have a plan but not to be stressed if things don’t go exactly as planned. For example, if it rains on a day you planned to go to the park, you could switch to an indoor activity like baking cookies or watching a movie.
Balance Work and Play: Make sure there is a good mix of work (like chores) and play (like games). This helps kids learn responsibility while still having fun. For example, you might schedule a chore time in the morning where everyone pitches in to clean up, followed by a fun outing in the afternoon.
Create Visual Schedules: Use a whiteboard or a poster to create a visual schedule that everyone can see. This is especially helpful for younger kids who can’t read yet. Use pictures or drawings to represent different activities and times of the day. This visual aid helps kids understand the plan and follow along.
Involve the Kids: Let the kids help plan the schedule. Ask them what activities they want to include and when they prefer to do them. Involving them in the planning process makes them more likely to stick to the schedule and enjoy the activities.

Creating a flexible daily schedule helps keep your days organized and less stressful. It provides a balance between structure and freedom, making summer more enjoyable for everyone. Having a plan in place helps ensure that important tasks get done while still leaving plenty of time for fun and relaxation.

>>>> Here’s a look at our summer schedule from a few years ago. <<<<

My granddaughter, Jenna at the swimming pool.

Simple Summer Schedule for Busy Moms

Here’s an example of a simple summer daily schedule that can help busy moms stay organized while making the most of summer:

7:00 AM – Wake Up and Breakfast

Start the day with a healthy breakfast.
Get everyone dressed and ready for the day.

8:00 AM – Morning Chores

Spend some time doing quick household chores.
Kids can help with age-appropriate tasks like making their beds or tidying up their rooms.

9:00 AM – Outdoor Play

Head outside for some fresh air and physical activity.
This could be a walk, a trip to the park, or playing in the backyard.

11:00 AM – Snack Time

Take a break and have a healthy snack.
This is also a good time to hydrate.

11:30 AM – Quiet Time/Independent Play

Allow kids to read, do puzzles, or play quietly on their own.
Use this time to catch up on emails, work, or relax for a bit.

12:30 PM – Lunch

Have a simple, nutritious lunch.
Encourage kids to help with setting the table or preparing the meal.

1:30 PM – Craft or Activity Time

Engage in a fun activity like arts and crafts, baking, or a science experiment.
This is a great time for creative play.

3:00 PM – Free Time

Let the kids have some free playtime.
Use this time to run errands, do additional chores, or have some personal downtime.

4:00 PM – Afternoon Snack

Take a break for an afternoon snack. Opt for healthy options that won’t spoil their appetite for supper.
Encourage kids to help prepare the snack to learn basic cooking skills.

4:30 PM – Indoor Play or Screen Time (if allowed)

Allow kids to watch a favorite show, play video games, or do an indoor activity.
Set limits on screen time to ensure it’s balanced with other activities. Truly screen time is not good for our little ones so be mindful! 🙂

5:00 PM – Dinner Preparation

Start preparing dinner.
Involve kids in simple tasks like washing vegetables or setting the table.

6:30 PM – Family Dinner

Sit down together for a family meal.
Use this time to talk about the day and plan for tomorrow.

7:30 PM – Evening Routine

Start winding down for the day with baths, brushing teeth, and getting into pajamas.
Read a bedtime story or have some quiet family time.

8:30 PM – Bedtime

Kids go to bed.
Use the remaining time to relax, finish up any remaining tasks, or enjoy some quiet time.

This simple schedule helps balance structured activities and free time, making it easier to manage daily tasks while ensuring plenty of fun and relaxation.

By following these tips for simplifying your summer routine, you can hopefully have a more relaxed and fun summer with your family. Remember, the goal is to enjoy the season while keeping things simple and stress-free. Live in the present and enjoy each day. Life is too short to stress over things that don’t really matter in the long run!

A few reminders:

Be sure to join our 30-Day Laundry Takedown challenge to make laundry easier and more manageable this summer.
Sign up for our email list to get tips, tricks.

I’d love to hear how you simplify your summer routine. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more updates and ideas. Join The Homemaker’s Society today for even more support and resources.

Simplifying Your Summer Routine: Tips for Busy Moms