Summer Planning Tips for ADHD Mom Entrepreneurs | ADHD Planning Strategies
Nearly every summer since becoming a mom I have made this grand plan of what we’re going to do as a family and what I’d like to get ahead on for my business in the summer “downtime”.
But alas…what I seem to forget every summer since becoming a mom is that there is no downtime. There is always something going on.
In fact, it seems like every summer our break gets busier and busier and shorter and shorter…and yet I still envision doing way more that I could possibly fit into those short 3 months.
But this year, I’m taking a different approach…sure I’m still going to dream a grand plan of places we’ll go as a family, rooms I’ll get organized in my home, updates I’ll finally make to my website with my non-existant extra time.
Because the planning and dreaming is so important for us ADHDers. That is where we excel. That is what sparks fun and creativity.
I am also going to apply the strategies I’m sharing with you today to my grand plan for my family and business. Because, in all things ADHD, awareness is power.
And by being aware of what I’d like to be doing along with my actual available time and energy, I can make progress towards those summer goals along with creating a range of outcomes that I would consider a “success” when it come to my summer plan.
What I would really like to focus on is less about the step by step process of creating your plan or setting goals for the summer. Because actually, us ADHDers are usually pretty awesome at the planning part.
I would dare say that if the planning part were all that needed to happen to make our dreams reality, us ADHDers would be the most successful people on the planet.
It’s when it comes to the follow through. The task initiation. The motivation after the initial excitement has worn off. That’s where we struggle on implementation.
And that’s why I want to focus on what we can do as ADHD moms and ADHD entrepreneurs to give some structure around the spontaneity of summer. To help us stay on track but also to realize there is some wiggle room when we decide what “success” looks like when it comes to accomplishing our goals for our business and family this summer.
Six Summer Planning Strategies for ADHD Mom Entrepreneurs
So without further ado, here are six steps I recommend we take as ADHD mom entrepreneurs in order to get what we want out of summer and create awareness around what we can realistically achieve based on time and energy.
ADHD Summer Plannning Strategies: Know your Schedule
I’ve spent some time the past few weeks adding all the activities I know are happening for sure during the summer break. And as of now, we have just 6 days in the month of June where we don’t have some sort of family activity.
But it is really important to know this information. Big picture wise…June is going to be really rough in terms of finding time to work.
And it also means I should probably not try to launch a new product or create some big campaign during that time because I’m going to basically be living in my car running here and there and everywhere.
It also means that when it comes to what I am working on during that month I should remember my second strategy which is…
ADHD Summer Planning Strategies: Create a Range of Expectations
If there is a mindset us ADHDers often get stuck in, it’s the perfectionism trap.
If it can’t be the exact way we envisioned it originally, then is it even worth doing?
Well, usually, yes it is.
But it can be really difficult for us ADHDers to motivate ourselves to start a task or continue working on it if we don’t have the time to do it the way we envisioned. Or we don’t have the energy to work on it.
By creating a range of outcomes, we can make actually make progress towards what we want to achieve without needing to feel like “If I can’t do it this way, then I’m not doing it at all.”
An example might be my recent attempt to get back into social media after an extended break. My best version of this plan was to have 6 pieces of content that I cycle through my 6 social media accounts over the course of 2 weeks.
I have yet to accomplish that. But what I have accomplished I would say is my better version which would be getting some form of content up on each platform each week.
And if life gets in the way, as it often does with end of the year concerts and soccer tournaments, my good version of this plan may be to get something up on each platform every 2 weeks.
Good. Better. And Best. All get me towards my overall goal of getting back into social media…just some may be a little more robust than others.
And speaking of modifying plans when life gets in the way, it’s also important to….
ADHD Summer Planning Strategies: Embrace Flexibility
No matter how much you plan or put things on your schedule, there are going to be last minute opportunities or events that aren’t currently on your radar that will pop up and throw a monkey wrench in even the most thoroughly thought out plans.
Being flexible with what we can and will do can help us make progress without feeling we have to burn ourselves out to do so.
And speaking of avoiding burnout, it is also important to…
ADHD Summer Planning Strategies: Set Clear Boundaries
If you are serious about creating and growing a small business, you can’t take the entire summer off. At least not until you’re humming along with systems and a team in place to take over in your absence.
So most of you are going to need to work both on and in your business over the summer while your kids are home.
But that doesn’t mean you have to devote every unscheduled minute to your business.
It also means your kids will be ok if you need to go in a room with your laptop and shut the door to work while they’re home.
Establishing clear boundaries around your work and family time means that your clients and your team are aware when you’ll be available, especially if you’re scaling back for summer.
It also means that your kids are aware that mama needs to work.
And if you start to feel guilty because you think your kids will be bored because you’re not entertaining them every waking minute, remind yourself of the awesome example you are setting about hard work, dedication, and setting boundaries in their own lives.
Another key way to combat potential burnout while your juggle all the things this summer is to…
ADHD Summer Planning Strategies: Plan Some Self-Care
We’ve talked about the kids’ schedule. We’ve talked about your work schedule. But what about you.
What have you done for you lately?
Or do you plan to do for you this summer?
Planning to recharge your batteries on a regular basis during the summer doesn’t mean you have to take a trip or plan regular spa days.
But it can be extremely helpful for our energy and mood to spend a little time, preferably on a daily basis, doing something that is just for us.
Think reading, working out, journaling, cooking, baking, listening to music or podcasts…anything that brings a smile to your face or that you think to yourself “this is nice” while you’re doing it would probably fall into the self care category.
And finally, if you are struggling to juggle it all or you look at your schedule now and think “there is no way I can run these kids around AND do anything for my business, it may be time to…
ADHD Summer Planning Strategies: Ask for Help
Do your kids have friends on their summer sports team that you can carpool with to alleviate some of your driving?
Could your spouse or kids be in charge of dinner a few nights per week?
Should you hire someone to create and post to your social media for the summer?
Help can come in a lot of forms. And there is no prize for you burning yourself out over the summer trying to do all the things and be everything everywhere all at one.
So as you look at your schedule and your range of expectations, as you figure out where you are flexible and where you need to set boundaries, as you plan to care for yourself…look for the places you may need extra support so that you enjoy your summer and your business can keep humming along until school starts next fall.
And if you need help planning your summer (or any time of year) as an ADHD mom and ADHD entrepreneur, I would love to support you. In my one-on-one coaching program, we meet each week to determine your priority tasks and when you have time to work on them. Even in the summer. I want you to continue to grow your business AND enjoy the summer with your family. So click the button below to sign up for your free, no-obligation call to see how I can help you.
