Summertime Self-Care: You Don’t Need More Motivation—Just More Honesty

I love summer! And I love the heat. Maybe it’s because my old ass still lives like I’m in high school, counting down the days until pool parties and summer fun. My kid is the same—an adventure-loving wild child who’d live outside if I let him. When the thermometer dips and it’s time to bundle up, everything feels harder. But right now? It’s time for pool parties, ice cream, road trips, and shaking up the “routine.”

But here’s the catch: when summer fun kicks into high gear, self-care often gets benched. My calendar is packed—up at 4:30 for work, shuttling between camps, weeknight calls, impromptu BBQs, and travels. The other day I damn near needed to pull over on my little five-minute drive home just to close my eyes for a sec. Sound familiar?

The Motivation Trap

“I’ll get back to it once things slow down.”

“After this trip, I swear I’ll be consistent.”

We all wait for that perfect moment when motivation magically appears. Spoiler: it rarely does. Summer doesn’t hand out free minutes—it hands out more invite notifications.

Motivation isn’t the plan.

Honesty and boundaries are.

Get Real About Your Load

Take a quick inventory:

• How many workouts did you actually show up for last week?

• How many did you cancel or “reschedule” because life got hectic?

• Are you running on caffeine, snacks, and good intentions?

That’s not just a scheduling glitch—it’s a wake-up call. You’ve got to be honest with your calendar (and yourself) if you want to protect your energy.

Sometimes my self-care looks like me waking up extra early and doing a 20-minute strength routine in my nightgown. 

Your Simple Summer Game Plan

1. Block your non-negotiables. Got 30 free minutes tomorrow? Scribble it in as “Me Time — Workout” and treat it like a flight you can’t miss.

   • Ask: What could stand in my way of actually getting this workout done, and how will I pivot if it does?

   • Decide: What you’re wearing, where you’ll move, and exactly what it takes for you to commit.

2. Get creative.

   • Kids home? Do a quick home circuit or have a living-room dance party.

   • No gym? Family swim, bike ride, or backyard tag. Play counts as movement.

3. Ask, “What’s in my control?”

   Not the weather, not the neighbors’ BBQ smoke, but the time you carve out.

   • What small action today will leave you proud on Friday?

4. Be kind to yourself. You don’t have to do it all. You just have to do something for yourself, damnit.

   
   

Boundaries over burnout. Progress over perfection.

💬 Your Turn

What’s one boundary you need to set this summer to protect your energy or your workouts? Reply below or shoot me a DM—I’ll help you make it stick.