5 Ways To Alleviate Your Summertime Stress
The last day of school is quickly approaching. Your kids may be getting excited as they think about the blissful days of zero homework, lots of pool time, a few beach days, and very lazy living.
Bring on summertime!
Oh, hey, Single Mom. We see you there. You’re already tired, and your mind is playing a background track that sounds a lot like notes of nervousness and stress. You don’t see the approaching summer as a magical playland. Instead, it feels like a logistical landmine and a potential financial disaster.
Know this—you’re not alone. In 2016, the TODAY Show led a parent poll which revealed 44% of parents think that summer is more stressful than the rest of the year. Add in the component of single parenting, and that number is likely much higher. Summertime can cause more pressure for single moms because of the added stress of finding affordable and reliable childcare. There’s also increased financial stress from the pressure of finding educational, enjoyable, and safe activities for the kids.
We’re giving you five practical ways to navigate around the significant stressors that come with summer planning. If you’re a free-spirited woman, you may skim through this list and want to run away. Please, just give yourself 5-minutes to understand why a little structure may help you stop singing the Summertime Blues.
5 Ways To Alleviate Your Summertime Stress
#1: Rally the Kids
That same TODAY Show survey identified that parents were most concerned about:
Children having too much screen time
Constantly having to entertain the kids
The children repeatedly saying, “I’m bored.”
One way to navigate through some of those obstacles is getting your children involved in the summer planning. Initiate conversations with them about what is most important to them this summer and what they want to do. For example, what if you think they want to go to a particular camp but would rather do an activity that costs less? By understanding what they want to do, combined with your parental insight and knowledge of your budget, you can begin to make a plan that you can afford, and they will enjoy.
#2: Create A Schedule
Take the time to create a schedule. Grab a calendar and fill it in week-by-week with summer activities so you are clear on what you and your children are doing and how much things will cost. As you calculate the costs and create the schedule, allow room for flexibility just in case plans change, or you decide to do something different. The goal is to try to avoid or anticipate surprises.
Fill the calendar with as much free stuff as possible. Taking advantage of free and low-cost activities for the summer will help you save money. Although some of these ideas aren’t all day and still may leave the challenge of childcare unsolved, many of these activities are a great starting point for summer enrichment. A quick Google search of “free and affordable summer activities” will turn up many options in your location.
Live in the Tampa Bay area? Here’s a great resource.
As you start to think about making plans, talk to trusted friends, family, or people from church to see what they are doing to get ideas. They may know about full-time options so your child will have a safe and great summer. Join our Single Mom’s Facebook group and ask other single moms for ideas.
#3: Work Within Your Budget
“What budget?” you may be thinking. It’s possible you already feel like your outgoing expenses exceed your income.
Budget can sound like a dirty word, but there is freedom when you know where your money is going. An itemized budget will help you keep track of where your money is going, discover where you are overspending, and help you identify where you can rearrange where you’re spending your money.
Prioritize food, housing, and transportation. These are non-negotiable items that require attention. Then, list everything else. Now, you can start clearing space for summertime financial needs by removing items you can live without, for now.
The goal here is to tell your money where it goes, not let it dictate how you live.
If you’re feeling like this only adds MORE stress to your life, ask for help. Shepherd’s Village University, our free online learning center, has a course on Financial Freedom, and many local churches offer Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace. You may have a friend or family member who is a whiz at budgeting and finances. It’s okay to ask them if they’d mind helping you figure out how to find the money for summertime expenses. They may feel honored that you would ask.
#4: Avoid Adding Debt
This one sounds easier than it is to practice. If you need to go to work and you have kids who need childcare, you probably will need to pay for that care unless you have a large support system. Depending on your income and current expense levels, this could be a considerable strain.
All the financial advice that says, “don’t spend money you don’t have” sounds great, but the reality for many single moms is that sometimes you’re faced with financial challenges that lead to spending money that you don’t necessarily have. To help soften this, you could save a little each month throughout the school year for your summer expenses. However, what if you didn’t do that and now that it’s May or June? What now? There are a couple of things that you can do:
Start saving, even a little bit, right now.
Evaluate ways to increase your income—selling unused items, for example.
Consider ways to cut expenses.
If your children are old enough to earn some money, look for ways they can contribute—like, mowing a neighbor’s lawn.
Don’t panic. Evaluate your options, and decide on the best course of action.
#5: Squeeze In Time for YOU
It can be easy to forget that you matter too. You’re going to need moments to center yourself and to regroup so that you can focus on your mind and your spirit. It’s incredible how much you can recharge by taking a few moments to honor yourself and God.
Add yourself to the calendar. Me-time is essential to help you avoid feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Taking time to rest brings peace and shows that you trust God to help you accomplish your tasks. Even God rested after He created the heavens and the earth.
“By the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day, he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” – Genesis 2:2
There are simple things you can do each day to shift your energy and your mood.
Go for a walk
Take intentional deep breaths
Meditate of God’s Word and pray
Reward yourself monthly
Stay in touch with encouraging friends
These are all activities that will
Reduce anxiety and depression
Lower/stabilize blood pressure
Increase energy levels
Relax your muscles
Decrease feelings of stress
These are excellent practices for your kids too!
You’ve Got This, Mama.
Your kids deserve to have fun during the summer, but their excitement shouldn’t come at the expense of your mental health or your bank account. With a bit of forethought and creativity, you can develop summertime solutions that satisfy everyone’s needs.
Let us know how we can pray for you!