🌻 What to Do When You Feel Like “You Should Be Doing More” in Summer
Summer often brings with it a strange pressure—one that whispers, “You should be doing more.”
More worksheets. More enrichment. More prep for fall.
More structure. More activities. More everything.
Even when our hearts long for slowness, something in us—often shaped by years of traditional schooling, comparison, or guilt—makes us feel like if we aren’t doing enough, we’re somehow falling behind.
If you’ve felt that tug of pressure this summer, this post is for you.
🌞 First, Take a Breath: You’re Not Behind
Here’s the truth: you are not behind.
Learning doesn’t stop just because you didn’t print out a unit study this week. Your child is still absorbing, observing, growing, and wondering—whether they’re splashing in a pool, baking with you, or collecting rocks on a walk.
We must remember: slowness is not stagnation.
Rest is not wasted.
Boredom is often the beginning of creativity.
đź’ Why Do We Feel Like We Should Be Doing More?
There are so many reasons:
Comparison to other families online
Fear of “falling behind” traditional school benchmarks
Pressure from well-meaning relatives
The belief that productivity equals worth
The discomfort of stillness when we’re used to go-go-go
But homeschooling, especially in the summer, is a chance to relearn a new rhythm—one that honors your family’s flow, not society’s pace.
🌿 Let Summer Be the Season of Gentle Growth
Think of nature:
In summer, everything is in full bloom, but it’s also in a season of maintenance. The seeds were planted in spring, and now the work is steady and quiet. The fruit ripens at its own pace. The bees know what to do. The sun simply shines.
You don’t have to force growth. You just have to allow it.
✨ What Can You Do Instead of “Doing More”?
Here are a few soul-soothing ideas that bring peace instead of pressure:
1. Shift to a Summer Rhythm, Not a Schedule
Let your days ebb and flow. Maybe it’s…
Morning nature walks
Midday rest + read-alouds
Creative afternoons (play, projects, or simply daydreaming)
Let go of exact times and focus on flow.
2. Reframe Boredom as a Portal
When your child says “I’m bored,” try asking:
“What could you create? What haven’t you tried? What feels fun right now?”
Boredom is the soil of imagination—don’t rush to fill it.
3. Embrace Learning in the Little Moments
Learning can look like:
Baking (fractions, sequencing, patience)
Gardening (biology, weather, care)
Listening to a podcast together on a car ride
Building with blocks, legos, or mud
The simple moments are enough.
4. Turn Comparison into Curiosity
Instead of thinking, “Why aren’t we doing that?” try asking:
“Is that something we actually want or need right now?”
Stay rooted in your family's unique values, not someone else’s highlight reel.
5. Give Yourself Permission to Rest
Just as children need unstructured time, so do you.
You are allowed to:
Take a slow morning
Leave the dishes for later
Sit in the sun while your kids play
Not plan next year’s curriculum yet
Rest is productive. Healing is progress.
At the end of each summer day, write down…
âś… 1 thing your child learned (big or small)
âś… 1 moment you felt joy
✅ 1 thing you’re proud of (even if it’s just “we made it through today”)
This is the real curriculum. This is the heart of home education.