How I Manage My Business During Summer Break

I am writing this blog post in real time. It's officially June and summer vacation has arrived, with the chaos that only two teenage boys and a princess of a 6 year old could bring. my house. Suddenly my quiet(ish) workdays are swapped for Costco snack runs (why do they eat SO.MUCH.FOOD.), breaking up fights over the remote (apparently two TVs is just not enough), and hearing “I’m bored” on a loop… all before I’ve finished my first cup of coffee.

My Google Calendar used to be full of client calls and content planning. Now? It’s a patchwork of camp drop-offs, rides to work, and last-minute playdates. The rhythm I worked so hard to build during the school year?

Gone.

I love summer. But let’s be real - it can be chaotic.

I’m constantly trying to balance being the “fun mom” with the reality of running a business. It’s not exactly easy to write an email to my list or plan social media content while someone’s begging to play Barbie Dreamhouse for the millionth time.

That’s why I started prepping ahead. With a little planning, some solid systems, and a lot of flexibility, I’ve found ways to keep my business moving and actually enjoy the summer, without burning out or giving up. Here's how I manage my business over summer break:

Focus On What Really Matters

If I do nothing else to prep my business for summer, I make sure to get crystal clear on what actually matters. When my time is limited (which it always is during summer), every task has to earn its spot on my to-do list.

That means letting go of the pressure to “do it all” and focusing on what actually moves the needle in my business. One of the easiest ways I do that is by doing a quick Business Task Audit.

Now, this isn’t about color-coding a giant spreadsheet (unless you love that kind of thing). It’s just about taking a simple inventory of what I’m working on, what’s working, and what can be paused or trimmed down for the season.

Here are the questions I ask myself:

• What projects or deadlines are coming up in the next 2–3 months?

• Am I planning any launches, collaborations, or big shifts?

• What recurring tasks actually keep the business running — like emails, client work, social posts, invoices, etc.?
  

Then I either grab a notebook or open a Google Doc and start listing out all my regular tasks — client work, marketing, admin stuff, content, inbox, all of it.

Once I have it all written down, I sort each task into one of these categories:

• Must Do: Client work, invoicing, following up with leads

• Nice to Do: Blog posts, bonus visibility efforts

• Can Wait Until Fall: New product ideas, backend cleanups, big-picture strategy
  

This quick audit gives me a realistic view of what’s actually essential and what can take a backseat while I’m juggling sunscreen, snack duty, and all the messy, wonderful parts of summer. Once I see the big picture, it’s so much easier to cut or delegate without feeling guilty.

Lower My Expectations During Summer Break

(Seriously, this one’s been a game-changer for me.)

Here’s the truth: I can’t work the same way during summer as I do during the school year. And I’ve learned to stop expecting myself to. That doesn’t mean everything falls apart, it just means I shift the goal.

I’m not aiming to keep my usual pace; I’m aiming to stay consistent enough to keep things moving without burning out… or resenting my kids for just being kids.

For me, that starts with getting really honest about how much time I actually have.

Maybe I can grab a couple hours before the house wakes up, or sneak in some focused work time after lunch during quiet time. Some weeks, I batch my calls into one or two afternoons when my husband is home from work.

What matters most is being intentional. I’ve had to remind myself that my summer work schedule needs to match my real life, not some fantasy version of it. If I only have 10 hours a week to work, I can’t try to squeeze in 20 hours worth of tasks. I trim the list to fit my actual capacity.

I also make a point to clearly communicate my availability to clients. I set boundaries around when I’m working and when I’m fully offline. That’s made a huge difference.

I feel more in control, my family knows what to expect, and I don’t end up building my business on borrowed time and mom guilt.

Here’s how I start:

• I count how many work hours I’ll realistically have each week (early mornings, quiet time, camp days, etc.).

• I block those hours on my calendar using a planner or time-blocking app.

• I match my most important tasks to the time slots when I know I can focus.
  

For example:

Let’s say I’ve got 90 minutes in the morning before the kids are up, and a 2-hour quiet time window in the afternoon. I block those out on my weekly plan and assign my “must-do” tasks to those windows.

If your kids are older, try using a visual cue for “Mom is working” - a desk sign, a light, a timer, anything that signals do not disturb. I also keep a stash of activities, snacks, or screen time passes handy so they know what they can do while I’m working.

Delegate and Automate My Business Tasks

I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that I don’t have to do it all myself during summer, and neither do you. Offloading a few things can make a huge difference, and no, that doesn’t mean hiring a full-time team.

Even if you’re not ready to outsource business tasks, think about what you can hand off in your life to free up some mental space.

Seriously, the breathing room you get from not doing everything yourself is worth its weight in gold. It gives you more capacity to show up for both your business and your family, without feeling like you’re constantly running on fumes.

Here are a few things I do:

• My husband and I alternate bedtime. On his nights, I am able to do an hour of focused work while he does the bath-story-water-prayers-hugs-more hugs-water again routine

• I swap tasks with my biz bestie. It's like if I have to clean my own kitchen I'll put it off all day, but if I go to a friends house and she asks for help cleaning her kitchen, I'm all over it. I'll design her Canva graphics and she'll schedule my emails for me.

• I’ve hired a virtual assistant for just a few hours a week to help manage my inbox or respond to client messages.
  

And once I’ve figured out what I can delegate, I look for what I can automate.

Automation doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated. It just means something happens without me doing it manually every single time. Automating a few core things saves me so much time, keeps my business running smoothly, and lets me shut the laptop without panicking.

A few of my go-to automations:

• Email autoresponder: I set one up to let clients know I’m working summer hours and what kind of response time they can expect.

• Social media: I planned out 6 weeks of social media content. I scheduled posts on Threads & Instagram in advance using the app. What I didn't schedule I had waiting in folders in my Google Drive and on my phone so it was ready to go when I felt like posting (which honestly isn't that often)

• Client workflows: I use a software called Moxie to help me automate invoices, my inquiry forms, and client reminders.

• Email marketing: I try to batch and schedule weekly newsletters at the beginning of the summer so I don't have to think about it.
  

If you want to peek behind the scenes at the automations I use in my own business, you can check that out HERE.

Systemize My Home Life

When my house is a mess, it's almost impossible for me to focus on work. I can feel the weight of the laundry pile, the sink full of dishes, or that mystery tupperware in the back of the fridge pulling my attention away from what I’m supposed to be doing.

I’ve learned that if I want to stay productive in my business during the summer, I have to get my household running as smoothly as possible first.

For me, prepping my cleaning schedule is just as important as prepping my client workload. The more things I set up in advance, the fewer decisions I have to make on the fly, and that helps me switch between mom life and work life with a lot less stress.

I keep things simple and stick to a few steady systems:

• One load of laundry a day, start to finish. That means washed, dried, folded, and put away. It keeps the mountain from growing.
  

• Run the dishwasher every night and unload it every morning. Even if it's not completely full, I still run it.
  

• A basic chore schedule to keep the house in shape without spending hours cleaning:

  • Monday: Bathrooms

  • Tuesday: Dust

  • Wednesday: Catch up or cleaning project

  • Thursday: Vacuum

  • Friday: Mop

  • Saturday: Sheets

  • Sunday: no chores!
    

I also try to set a loose rhythm for the week — not a rigid schedule, just a general idea of what’s happening:

• Weekly rhythms: Mondays we go to the park, Wednesdays we swim at Grammy's, Fridays are make your own pizza (Costco pizza crust FTW!) and movie night.

• Theme meals: Taco Tuesdays, pasta Thursdays, etc. I thought my kids would complain about the "same thing" every week for dinner, but actually they kind of like always knowing what they'll be eating that night. It also cuts down on the 9am "what's for dinner" questions, because they all know what the plan is for that day.

• Snack drawer: I stock a self-serve basket with easy options so I’m not constantly being asked for food while I’m trying to work.

• Summer Activities List: I keep a running list of simple ideas, sorted by indoor/outdoor and quiet/high-energy. Some are screen-free, some include screens, it depends on the day.
  

The goal isn’t to do everything perfectly, it’s just to create enough structure that we’re not constantly scrambling. Fewer “what now?” moments means I can be more present in whatever role I’m in, whether I’m on a client call or hosting a living room Barbie tea party.

Embrace a Lighter Season - Your Business Will Thank You!

For me, summer doesn’t have to be a sprint, I’ve started treating it more like a slow after dinner walk.

That means shifting my expectations, not just in my business, but in my mindset too. I don’t need to launch something brand new, scale to six figures, or power through every task on my Asana board in the next eight weeks.

Sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is just to sustain what I’ve already built and give myself permission to enjoy this season I’m in (both literally and figuratively). This is a time for maintenance, not growth. For showing up just enough to keep my business steady while still soaking up time with my kids (while they'll still hang out with me!)

I’ve learned that doing less doesn’t mean my business is stalling. It just means I’m being more intentional with my energy. For me, that might look like batching a few pieces of content, wrapping up current projects, and finally clearing out my inbox. It might also mean taking Fridays off and working shorter hours during the week.

Whatever “lighter” looks like for you, lean into it. Your business will still be there when school starts. But these summer days with your kids? They’re short. I want my summer to reflect what actually matters to me, not just how productive I can be.

Here are a few things that help me keep that perspective:

• Summer is a maintenance season, not a growth one. I focus on staying visible, not going viral.

• Celebrate every win, even the small ones. Some weeks, your win will be that you send one email or posted once on social media.

• Saying no to projects that feel heavy or unnecessarily stressful.

• Building in dedicated time off from work - for your brain, body, and relationship health.

  
  

At the end of the day, I built this business to support my life, not take it over. Summer reminds me to act like that’s actually true. ☀️

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a perfectly mapped out schedule or a full-time nanny to survive summer as a business-owning parent. But you do need a plan.

Take the time now (before the last day of school creeps up) to organize your time, prep your business, and simplify your home life. That way you'll get to enjoy your summer and extra time with your kids without feeling like your business is taking a back seat.