Why Hide That Summer Break Stress Is Real? (And How To Fix It)

The summer break can be stressful for any of us. When there’s a heat wave, it’s figuring out how to stay cool enough and likely not getting much sleep in the process. If we’re a child or a student, it’s knowing how to fill all that free time. But let’s not forget the parents who often see everything thrown out the window as they juggle having to work and keeping their kids alive while they’re not at school. Hence, this article.

 

 

Managing Our Summer Break

 

The summer break, while often seen as a carefree time, can be a source of significant stress and anxiety for kids, students, parents, and even teachers. The abrupt shift from a structured routine to a more open schedule can be disorienting and lead to feelings of boredom, isolation, and a lack of purpose. Depending on which position we find ourselves in will dictate how stressful the summer break might be. For me, currently, the only stress that comes with the summer break is the heat.

 

For students

While we don’t need a rigid school-like schedule, having a routine, albeit a flexible one, can provide a sense of stability. Plus, it can help with the transition back to school, college, or university for the next academic year.

 

Therefore, it can be useful to have a regular wake-up and bedtime, mealtimes, and daily activities to reduce the feeling of uncertainty. Keeping the same morning and sleep routine as much as possible will help with avoiding sleep disturbances (Penn Foundation, 2021). Same with maintaining a meal schedule, but regarding our energy levels.

 

As our places of education provide a built-in social support network, summer can feel isolating. Therefore, it’s good to engage with our social support network. Make a conscious effort to stay in touch with friends through planned activities, social gatherings, or even video/voice calls.

 

 

Boredom can be a problem during the summer break, so to help avoid that trap, it can be useful to create small, achievable goals for the summer. This could involve reading a certain number of books, learning a new skill, volunteering, getting a part-time job, or finding a new hobby. This is because arranging purposeful activities can boost confidence and reduce feelings of aimlessness.

 

Where possible, get active during the summer break. Physical activity is a proven way to reduce anxiety and improve mood. Incorporate exercise into our daily routine, whether it’s going for a walk, riding a bike, or playing a sport.

 

When I was young, it was playing football, skating, or going on random bike rides. It’s also ok to embrace rest and self-care. We all need some downtime, and in scorching hot summers, a time to recharge is probably more ideal. Don’t feel pressured to be productive every second. Allow ourselves to rest, relax, and engage in activities that bring us joy.

 

 

For parents and caregivers

According to Mind (n.d.), parents often feel a sense of dread when it comes to the summer break. And how could they not? If we have jobs, then how are we meant to look after our children who no longer have to be at school? This is often a great source of stress for parents and guardians, and often causes guilt as well. Acknowledging and validating these feelings is important.

 

We need to understand that our feelings are probably echoed by every single parent and guardian in the world. It can also help to talk openly about our children’s feelings without judgment, regarding the summer break as well, and let them know that these emotions are normal.

 

One way to make the summer break a little less stressful is to collaborate on a schedule. Involve our children in this process so they can stick to it without our constant input. This can give them a sense of ownership and control, making them more likely to stick to it. For younger children, it can be useful to help them develop and maintain their academic skills, such as reading. Thus, scheduling reading time can be useful, even if it’s only 30 minutes a day (Jackson County School District, n.d.).

 

With a bit of pre-planning, it may be possible to find summer activities and summer school (and summer camps for you Americans) to help keep our children busy (BBC Bitesize, 2025). Check with the school and local council website to find out what might be on. I did football training, which kept me busy for a week.

 

 

Furthermore, as best as we can, keep our children’s wake-up and sleep time the same, even when on holiday (vacation). This can help with switching between holiday and school transitions a lot more easily (Brown University Health, n.d.).

 

It’s also important to prioritise our own self-care. Make time for activities that we enjoy and that help us relax. And remember, it’s healthy for our children to feel bored and thus learn to manage it (BACP, 2024). This is often a great opportunity to engage their creative mind.

 

It can also be useful to reach out to other parents and guardians to see if a plan can be formulated together for taking turns looking after the children. Or, just for sharing ideas and providing emotional support.

 

Above all, remember to be kind to ourselves. Don’t put too much pressure on ourselves to have the “perfect” summer break. Be realistic about what we can accomplish (BACP, 2024). We’re only human. We can’t do everything.

 

 

For teachers

I didn’t want to forget the hard-working teachers, often in very thankless jobs, ridiculously underpaid, who work more hours than they get paid for, and often pay for supplies out of their own pockets.

 

It’s easy to want to start preparing for the next academic year, because the work is never done. And I get that, getting ahead of this is certainly going to help manage that stress. There’s nothing wrong with scheduling some time to do that (Haynes, 2023), but there also has to be a balance. Teachers, like the rest of us, need time to recover and relax. Be kind to yourself and give yourself that time.

 

Therefore, working out a wellbeing plan with wellbeing non-negotiables can help all you hardworking teachers not forget that your own wellbeing is important (Education Support, n.d.). This is your chance to get a break from annoyingly frustrating students like me, so make the most of it. If that’s not enough to convince you, then consider this: A well-rested and mentally healthy teacher benefits their students by providing a better learning environment (Allen, 2026).

 

Therefore, meet up with friends and family, engage in your hobbies and interests, and basically do as much as you can that doesn’t involve thinking about your students.

 

 

The summer break can be stressful, but there are ways to mitigate that stress. We may not be able to do anything about the heat or the long queues at the airport, but there are many other things we can put into place, whether we’re a parent/guardian, teacher, or student. The key is to get things in motion before the summer break kicks off, when activity groups will still have spaces, and we can arrange things with friends before they get too busy. But no matter what happens, remember to be kind to ourselves.

 

References

 

Allen, L. (2026, April 20). Teachers summer holiday challenges and Self-Care. Provide Education. Retrieved from https://www.provide-education.co.uk/teachers-wellbeing-prioritizing-self-care-during-summer-holiday.

BACP. (2024, July 24). How parents can take the stress out of the summer break. BACP. Retrieved from https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/2024/25-july-how-parents-can-take-the-stress-out-of-the-summer-break.

BBC Bitesize. (2025, January 21). Take the stress out of summer – 6 tips for frazzled parents. BBC Bitesize. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zx64r2p.

Brown University Health. (n.d.). Summer schedules and why children need them. Brown University Health. Retrieved from https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/summer-schedules-and-why-children-need-them.

Education Support. (n.d.). Look after your wellbeing this summer: tips for teachers and education staff. Education Support. Retrieved from https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/resources/for-individuals/articles/look-after-your-wellbeing-this-summer.

Haynes, R. (2023, February 7). Time to give it a rest, teachers – Teacher wellbeing over the summer break. Bromcom. Retrieved from https://bromcom.com/blogs/teacher-wellbeing-over-summer-break.

Jackson County School District. (n.d.). Parents e-Tips. Jackson County School District. Retrieved from https://www.jcsd.ms/for-parents/parents-e-tips?hl=en-US.

Mind. (n.d.). Supporting parents during school holidays. Mind. Retrieved from https://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/campaigns/mental-health-at-work-commitment/resources/supporting-parents-during-school-holidays.

Penn Foundation. (2021, July 20). Stress Busting Solutions for Parents: Strategies for a Successful Summer Break.St. Luke’s Penn Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.pennfoundation.org/news-events/articles-of-interest/stress-busting-solutions-for-parents-strategies-for-a-successful-summer-break.