Dear friends,
Greetings! August is here, and I hope you have either taken time away or have rest and relaxation ahead. I have a confession to make: I have mixed feelings about summer. I love having my college kid home and appreciate the summer weather (outside of foggy San Francisco, anyway!) but summertime at the office can be challenging. The work demands press on, but since everyone is out of the office at different times, it’s harder to get things done. And even though I try to be very intentional about vacation, I can’t deny that I work hard to prepare before I leave and strain to catch up afterwards. I always look back fondly on summer and feel grateful for fall’s return to routine.
In the last few months, I haven’t been keeping up with my usual organizational systems. Instead of planning ahead, whether it’s weekly meal planning or houseguests or gathering or work presentations, I’ve been getting things done at the last minute. I can’t even say it’s due to a lack of time, but rather, a lack of mental energy. When I feel stressed or daunted by what’s ahead, I don’t always make a plan. A few times recently, there’s been a scramble where usually I would have everything handled. That can look like pulling out all the leftovers and calling it dinner, having my cousin come over early for my daughter’s graduation brunch early to help set up, or finishing up my slides right before I present them.
I have been pleasantly surprised at the upside to not planning. This summer, for the first time I can remember, I organized last-minute social plans. Imagine my surprise when it worked out with much more ease than the back and forth on the group chat for three weeks! And last weekend, because our plans were flexible, we were able to fold in last-minute, out-of-town visitors without a hitch. Similarly, I learned that dinner in a household of two parents and two young adults doesn’t have to arrive in that narrow window after activities and before homework, and everyone can pitch in. When I don’t have everything planned and executed, I end up getting more help. Slides don’t always have to be visually stunning to convey the needed information. Running out of time for “extras” means keeping things simple, which to me has meant less stressful. Good enough is good enough!
I am not contradicting my earlier advice to prioritize, track your time, and plan ahead, but I do see a cost. Planning is mentally taxing, and then when life interferes, it can be discouraging. I have started asking myself, “do I need a plan for this?” and “what if I just let it happen?” I am striving for a balance of planning and spontaneity these days.
What about you? Do your routines and plans fall by the wayside in the summer? Drop me a line and let me know! Please share widely, as usual, and let others know they can sign up here.
Warmly,
Urmimala