We all mother something (unless, of course, we are a dad). Whether it’s kids, furry friends, a business, or the home, mothering takes an emotional effort that far outweighs our other tasks. Often, mothering is like looking at the world through tinted glasses. You tackle work objectives and contemplate new opportunity by putting the needs of those you care for first. It’s like an added layer of “stuff” sandwiched between you and the outside world. And this layer—one you’d trade for nothing else—dictates a summer schedule (or any schedule, really) that can be downright hectic at times.

Okay—it’s summertime! So let’s head into this season straddling the passenger’s seat instead of fully gripped in the driver’s. Lately, many of my friends have expressed that they just can’t catch their breath. Here in the mountains, people have seasonal professions that simply explode with the influx of tourists; others work in the construction trade and need the good weather to be productive; some are farmers who rely on hard work and Mother Nature to fatten the piggy bank. With so many tasks on our proverbial plates, we need to learn how to prioritize and clear the unnecessary clutter from our summer schedule. Here’s a step in the right direction …

Week 1: “If Momma Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy.”

Hey, ladies! Priority number one is YOU. So before sifting through the monthly to-do list, put yourself at the top. First, make a summer schedule and write in the things you need to be happy and grounded. This could mean a mid-day Pilates or yoga break, a monthly massage, or a weekly bike ride. Take this first week in July to pencil YOURSELF into your calendar. Then don’t wait! Get out and exercise your newfound agenda.

Week 2: Accomplish One Thing Daily

Before you mark up your calendar with work deadlines, summer camp plans, and dentist appointments, step back and tweak your mindset. Other, more primitive cultures, believe that tackling one task daily is enough. Not possible, you chuckle, knowing your upcoming schedule for the week. But if you really integrate this mentality while plotting things out, you’ll reap the bennies of less overall stress.

Demonstrate this practice on your kids too. Make them choose one activity seasonally—soccer, horseback riding, gymnastics—to avoid the rushing around that ultimately puts the family in a constant state of flight. Start by segmenting your day. For this first week in July, schedule in one “’must do” work task daily, one kid item, and one evening priority. If you have blank spaces already, congrats! The following week, leave some FREE space after day camp and in the evening. Soon, with a little self-training, all your evenings will be FREE for impromptu enjoyment.

Week #3: Reinvent the Morning Routine

Now that you have the perfect summer schedule, let’s work on the specifics. The flow of the morning routine sets the foundation for the day. If your routine is hurried, then the kids go off to camp stressed and grumpy. Did you forget to eat breakfast? Brush your teeth? Don’t fret; we’ve all been there. Use these rules to get back on track.

Rule #1: Wake up an hour before your children.
Okay, this rarely happens in my house, but even a half hour will give you time to greet the day with a quickie workout, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and get breakfast staged. It’s a hard one to pull off in the summer when we want to laze into our days, but it prevents the martyrdom that often ensues when you don’t have time to enjoy things alone.

Rule #2: Plan ahead.
I confess. I NEVER pack backpacks or make lunches the night before. This is an area where I really struggle! But I do believe that planning ahead helps curb the morning rush. Kudos to you night owls who have chock-full lunch pails in the morning! But for those of us who need nine hours of sleep, let’s just try to get the sunblock out and the beach towels washed.

Rule #3: Make it fun.
There is no room for rushing in the summer, but, inevitably it happens. It’s hard to wind down from nine months of hurrying out the door, even if you’re only going to the pool. Instead of rushing, challenge your kids to dress themselves, brush their teeth, and comb their hair. Set a timer and give rewards for a job well done. Coaching, rather than nagging, helps kids establish their independence. And as they adopt their roles and execute their tasks, this frees you up, too.

Secondly, put on some music. Mellow jazz provides good background music for eating; profanity-free hip-hop motivates kids to dress, clear their plates, and brush their teeth; and classical music lends a calming environment for waking up slowly. Music sets the tone for the day and sends kids off to camp or other activities stoked.

Week #4: Take Back Your Social Life (or some resemblance of)

We all feel happier when we’re surrounded by people, right? While the natural tendency for moms is to revolve around your children, it may not be the best for your inner soul. So break out that summer schedule again and set aside one night a month for some romance (okay, maybe just a candlelight dinner—sans conversation—at first) and one day, afternoon, or evening for a little summer girlfriend time.

When the kids were little, I would haul the Bumbo (God, I loved that thing!) over to a friend’s house each Friday for happy hour. The girl time, and girl talk specifically, provided a nice segue into the weekend. It was a platform for dumping all my weekday woes and talking about future goals and aspirations. These interactions are so needed for a shift in perspective that if we don’t force them into a priority slot, we may fall into a slump, come winter.

Taking a mindful approach to your summer schedule will hopefully provide you a road map to a mellower existence (we could all use a little of that, right?). Focus on your priorities by asking yourself: What is the most important task I need to do today?, How can I best serve myself?, and What one daily thing will make my family life happier? Then clear the background noise from your daily agenda (vacuuming the rug and grooming the dog can wait). After that, you will find yourself spending less time in what my daughter calls “la-la land” and more time in the present. Plus, once school is back in session, you’ll naturally fall into a routine that everyone’s come accustomed too.