For many women in print, summer brings longer days, vacation plans, and a change of pace. But for those working women with caregiver responsibilities – particularly those with school-aged children, it can also bring added complexity as schedules shift, routines become less predictable, and the demands of home life and work compete for more time and attention.

In her Forbes Coaches Council article, leadership coach and bestselling author (and past Women in Print Alliance featured speaker) Randi Braun dubs this season the “summer scramble” and offers practical strategies to manage the season with greater intention and – hopefully – less stress.

Among her recommendations:

  • Calendar Audit. Review summer months calendar to identify scheduling and coverage gaps before they become last-minute emergencies.
  • Build Systems; Not Daily Workarounds. Reduce decision fatigue and establish greater predictability by creating scheduling systems – not continual workarounds.
  • Communicate Proactively. Avoid bursts of frustration by clearly communicating about summer schedule adjustments and expectations at the start of the season.
  • Prioritize Self Care. The longer days of summer shouldn’t equate to longer “to do” lists. Use the extra time to spend it with people and activities (rest included) that recharge you.
  • Release Guilt. Don’t let social media, peers, co-workers – or even your own family – make you feel like you’re doing summer “wrong.” Focus on doing your best rather than striving for the perfect season.

While Braun’s article focuses on the summer months, the principles guiding seasonal transition:  communicating with clarity, prioritizing self-care as a necessity, and releasing the goal of perfection are relevant all year round.