Surviving the Summer Slide… as a Parent: Executive Functioning for Grown-Ups
Ah, summer. That magical season where time slows down, your fridge is constantly open, and someone is always either bored, sticky, or asking where their goggles are.
While we spend a lot of time worrying about our kids' executive functioning skills during the summer (and we should—structure helps them thrive), it’s just as essential to check in on our own. Because if you’re anything like me, summer has a funny way of melting not just popsicles, but also your sense of routine, time, and let's be honest—sanity.
Here are some ways to protect your executive functioning this summer, so you can actually enjoy the chaos instead of just surviving it:
1. Give Your Brain a Morning Anchor
You know that feeling when it’s 2 p.m., you’re still in pajamas, and you’ve accomplished nothing except reheating your coffee three times? That’s the summer time warp.
Try this: Pick one non-negotiable morning anchor. Maybe it’s unloading the dishwasher. Maybe it’s going for a short walk, journaling, or doing a 10-minute stretch while hiding in the pantry. The task doesn’t matter—what matters is signaling to your brain that we’re starting the day now.
2. Make a “Bare Minimum Weekly Plan”
You can forget Pinterest-level summer calendars. We’re talking low-lift, high-impact structure. Just take five minutes on Sunday night to sketch out:
What appointments/events are happening this week?
What’s one meal you will cook (even if it’s cereal night)?
What’s one adulting thing you’d like to check off (oil change, calling Aunt Carol, canceling that subscription you forgot about)?
This helps you stay in the driver’s seat instead of riding shotgun in a minivan full of sugar and pool floaties.
3. Set Digital Boundaries (Yes, for You)
I know it’s tempting to scroll TikTok in the bathroom just to escape the chaos (no shame—I’ve done it mid-potty training). But phones mess with our attention, memory, and task initiation—the holy trinity of executive functioning.
Try this: Pick 1–2 “tech-free” times a day. It could be from 9–11 a.m. or during dinner. You’ll be amazed at what a little digital break does for your focus—and your fuse.
4. Give Yourself Gold Stars
Seriously. Celebrate the small wins. Did you find everyone’s swim gear before camp? Gold star. Remembered sunscreen and a water bottle? DOUBLE star.
Our brains crave reward and recognition. So acknowledge your efforts, even if no one else does (because your kids keep forgetting to rate you on Uber).
5. Use “Future You” Language
When you’re about to abandon the laundry mountain or leave that permission slip unsigned, try saying:
“What would Future Me want me to do right now?”
Future You wants peace. Future You wants matching socks. And Future You will high-five you so hard for doing that thing now instead of spiraling later.
Final Thought: Progress, Not Perfection
You’re not failing if you don’t have a color-coded summer spreadsheet. You’re not behind if your house is louder, messier, and more chaotic than usual.
Executive functioning isn’t about being flawless—it’s about learning to support your brain in the real world. Even when the real world is full of sand, spilled lemonade, and a kid who swears they just had their towel.
