The Summer Holiday Juggle: How Working Parents Can Find Balance, Energy and Joy
For working parents, the summer holidays can feel like a double-edged sword. On one hand, there’s the excitement of longer days, family time, and a break from the school routine. On the other, there’s the reality: trying to keep your career moving, your children entertained, your home functioning and your sanity intact.
You’re not alone if you feel pulled in multiple directions. Many parents I coach share the same feelings: guilt for not being available enough, pressure to be productive at work, and the sense that you’re doing just enough to keep everyone afloat. Let’s be clear - there is no “perfect” balance during summer. There’s only your balance. And with a few intentional strategies, you can make the season feel less like survival mode and more like a season you’ll look back on with fond memories.
Here are five tangible, achievable tips to help you navigate the next few weeks with more calm, connection, and control.
1) Create a simple, visible plan for the week
Overwhelm thrives in uncertainty. A basic weekly planner on paper or a whiteboard, helps everyone know what’s happening and when. Include work blocks, childcare arrangements, activities, and even downtime. This isn’t about rigid scheduling, it’s about giving structure so your brain (and your children) know what to expect. Let’s face it, no one wants to feel disappointed!
2) Set “protected pockets” of time
Choose one or two blocks of time each week that are entirely for family - no work emails, no chores, just presence. This might be a picnic, a film night, or an hour in the park. Protect these like you would a client meeting. They create memories for your children and anchor points of connection for you.
3)Batch the ‘must-do’ tasks
Instead of constantly switching between work, parenting, and admin, group similar tasks together. For example, tackle work emails in two set chunks a day, meal prep for a few days at once, or run all errands in a single trip. You’ll reduce mental load and free up more genuine downtime.
4) Tap into your support network
It takes a village and summer is the perfect time to make use of yours. Swap playdates with friends, share childcare with a fellow parent, or lean on grandparents for a few hours. This isn’t a sign you’re not coping- it’s how you create breathing room for yourself and still give your children a great summer. This is something I really struggled with but now I have learnt this is imperative in order to create space for yourself and your mental wellbeing.
5) Give yourself a ‘minimum standard’ list
Perfection isn’t the goal. Identify the few non-negotiables that make you feel grounded, maybe it’s a short daily walk, 7 hours of sleep, or 10 minutes of quiet before bed. These are your sanity-keepers. If everything else feels chaotic, but these boxes are ticked, you’ll still feel steady and yourself.
Summer will always be a juggle for working parents, but it doesn’t have to mean running on empty. By planning with intention, protecting small moments, and leaning on your community, you can create a summer where you feel present, calm, and connected - not just like you’re keeping your head above water.
You’re not doing this alone. Many of us are figuring it out alongside you, adjusting as we go, and cheering each other on. And that’s what makes this summer manageable and even joyful.