How to Plan for a Peaceful (and Profitable) Summer as a Business Owner and Mom

Summer hits different when you’re running a business and chasing kiddos! Whether you’re navigating limited childcare, shifting routines, or just craving a slower pace that won’t derail your goals — this solo episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how I prep and plan for a peaceful (and profitable) summer as a business owner and mom that works for both my business and my family.

From the questions I ask to set our seasonal rhythm to how I’m structuring my work hours — and yes, what’s on our family’s summer bucket list — I’ll walk you through my step-by-step summer planning process. If you’ve ever wondered how to do “summer mode” as a business owner, this one’s for you!

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Prepping for Summer as a Business Owner and Mom

Let’s talk about how I prep for the summer as a business owner and mom. I try to approach every season with intention, but summer especially requires a thoughtful plan that works for both my family and my business—since I’m managing both at once. As a classic overachiever and recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned that I need to head into each season with a clear design for what I want it to look like.

Without a plan, I fall into the trap of trying to do it all—battling FOMO, competing with others, and questioning whether I’m doing enough in life, work, and motherhood. A few years ago, I started hearing friends and podcast hosts talk about creating a “summer plan,” and it really resonated with me. Over time, I developed my own version, which is essentially goal setting for summer.

I love setting goals—for the year, for the season—and I’ve found that the purpose of a summer plan is to look back and feel like we spent the season well. That we were intentional with our time, aligned it with our values, and created experiences that suited our unique season of life.

I want to look back after summer and feel proud of how I soaked it up—and having a plan really helps with that.

 

Step One: Prep for the Season Ahead

I actually learned this framework from Kendra Adachi’s Lazy Genius podcast. It’s a simple three-part assessment: Look Around, Look Back, Look Ahead.

• Look Around: What’s true in your current season of life? What does life look like right now?

• Look Back: Reflect on the same time last year. What did summer look like? What worked? What didn’t?

• Look Ahead: What’s coming up in the next few months that you want to plan for or work around—vacations, work launches, trips, childcare shifts, etc.?

 

My Current “Look Around”

This is such a happy season of life, and I feel really grateful for it. A friend of mine calls it the “white bread era,” which I love—very Southern and very true. I’m loving life with my husband, our two little girls, our home, and our neighborhood.

Our oldest is four, and our youngest just turned one. They’re silly, fun, and starting to play together more. We’re spending a lot of time outdoors and having picnics.

My husband is working full-time now, gone four days a week, so I’m the primary caregiver during those times. That shift has definitely affected my work schedule, but I’m grateful for this time with the girls.

Ironically, I actually have more childcare going into the summer than I typically do during the school year. We have a full-time nanny two days a week—she’s a college student who’s been with us for over three years, and she’s a blessing. That gives me about 10 dedicated work hours. I also try to get one to two hours of work in each morning, depending on how early I can wake up. So altogether, I’m aiming for around 20 dedicated work hours each week this summer.

One rhythm I’m still figuring out is meal planning—specifically, always having groceries in the house. Right now it’s just clunky. We’re often running out of food and scrambling to pick something up, which feels inefficient. That’s something I really want to streamline this summer.

 

Looking Back

Last summer was so much fun. My oldest and I spent a lot of time at the community pool with good friends. But we also had a newborn at home, so we skipped many of our usual summer activities. Honestly, it was just too hot, and I wasn’t ready to juggle the heat with a newborn.

This year, I’m excited to bring back some of those favorite summer traditions. I also remember how fast last summer flew by—like, blink and it’s over. That awareness is driving me to be even more intentional this time around, especially now that both girls are at such fun and interactive ages.

Looking back, I realized that some of my favorite memories were the simplest ones—going to the park, taking walks, trips to the library, and days at the pool. It’s such a good reminder that with little kids at home, the big trips aren’t always the most fun or realistic. Often, it’s those ordinary, slow moments that end up meaning the most.

 

Looking Ahead

As I look ahead to this summer and into the fall, we’re still very much in a nap and bedtime routine over here. That adds a layer of complexity to planning outings, especially because my youngest is still on two naps a day. My oldest doesn’t nap anymore but does quiet time. So figuring out how to get out of the house and do fun things within those two-to-three-hour wake windows can be a little tricky.

I’m trying to find the balance—how often am I willing to break the nap routine or stretch it a bit for something special, knowing it usually means everyone ends up tired and we need a day to recover?

One thing that helps is that Kyle doesn’t work on Fridays, which is such a gift. I’ve been thinking about how to really take advantage of that, and this feels like the year to finally implement something we’ve talked about: Field Trip Fridays. That would be the day for bigger adventures—going to Dollywood, strawberry picking, anything that might mean naps get skipped or shortened. It gives us a dedicated time for fun, out-of-routine things, while keeping Monday through Thursday more low-key with simpler outings like the park or library.

We also have a half-day camp planned for my oldest this summer. We’ll do “Grandma Camp” once or twice as well, and likely sign her up for a weekly activity. All of this, of course, has to be balanced with nap schedules and quiet time. I’m also considering transitioning our youngest to one nap come fall and exploring childcare options then, so that’s part of the big-picture thinking.

 

Step Two: Create Your Summer Plan

Once you’ve done your prep—looked back, looked around, and looked ahead—it’s time to create your actual summer plan, starting with a vision.

Ask yourself:

• How do I want to spend this summer?

• What rhythms and routines do I want in my home and work life?

• What pace do I want—slow and cozy, or packed with activities and travel?

• How much do I want to work, and how will that look given the season?

This is really about designing your ideal summer. I like to do this in two parts. First, create a vision board. I do this every year during my Blueprint Year planning process, which I also guide students through in my course. The idea is to capture the feeling, the mood, and the overall pace you want for your home and business this season.

 

Step Three: Make Your Summer Bucket List

Once you’ve created a vision, it’s time to make a summer bucket list. I know for some people a bucket list feels like it takes the spontaneity out of summer, but for me, it adds structure and builds excitement without pressure. It helps name the intentional memories we want to create, while letting go of the expectation to do everything.

If you know me, you know I love celebrating the seasons—I even have a minor pillow and décor obsession! I think there’s something magical about how time slows down when we create traditions. When we repeat rhythms and rituals each season, it brings a deep sense of joy and presence.

Think about it—why does a birthday feel like a birthday? It’s the tradition: the cake, the candles, the balloons. I want to bring that same intentionality to each season.

So for summer, we have a few traditions we do every year, plus fun extras we add to the bucket list. Start simple:

• Big trips you want to take

• Foods you want to eat (think: popsicles, watermelon, summer salads)

• Specific memories you want to make (picking strawberries, chasing fireflies)

• Daily or weekly rhythms (maybe it’s pool days, or “Ice Cream Fridays,” which someone shared and I loved!)

These little traditions give summer a distinct feel. They’re the things we do because it’s summer.

 

Our Summer Kickoff Tradition

One of my favorite family traditions is our “First Day of Summer Kickoff.” Before we had kids, I did this on the actual first day of summer. Now that we’re in the school rhythm, it makes more sense to do it at the end of the school year.

Here’s how I make it special using all five senses:

• Taste: We always go to Pelican Snowball, our favorite local shaved ice place.

• Smell: I buy a new summer candle that we only burn during this season.

• Read: I sit down with the new Magnolia Journal summer edition—it’s my personal seasonal ritual.

• Sight: I switch out some of our home decor to something more colorful and summery.

• Sound: We pick a summer playlist on Spotify to set the vibe for the season.

It’s such a fun way to mark the start of summer and build anticipation for what’s to come.

 

Annual Summer Traditions

Every year, we have a handful of summer traditions that are non-negotiables—events we love and look forward to. I start by pulling out my calendar—I use the Essential Calendar, the three-month seasonal version, which I’ll link in the show notes. It’s perfect for mapping out the summer.

Some of our must-do events include:

• FunFest, a local festival I’ve been attending since I was a little girl. We always go to the hot air balloon launch—it’s such a special memory.

• Jonesborough Days, our favorite 4th of July parade in a charming Tennessee town.

• Freedom Fest, the fireworks celebration near Knoxville, which is our family’s Fourth of July fireworks tradition.

• A trip to Dollywood, which we love to do as a fun kickoff to summer.

• A family beach trip, ideally every year.

• Last year, we started a neighborhood summer block party. I’m not sure if that’s a permanent tradition yet since it involves the whole neighborhood, but it’s something we’d love to continue if it works out.

These are all events that happen annually and help shape our summer. I get those on the calendar first.

 

Summer Fun Planning: Flexibility + Favorites

After setting our dates, I create our summer fun list. These are the activities, experiences, and simple joys we want to enjoy—some we repeat each year, and others we add as the kids grow.

Instead of scheduling them right away, I jot them on sticky notes (a tip I picked up from Kendra Adachi of The Lazy Genius). That way, when we feel like doing something, we just move the sticky note to that day on the calendar. It gives us flexibility without forgetting the things we’re excited about.

Some of our go-to summer fun activities:

• Splash pad days

• Sprinkler play in the yard

• Blowing bubbles

• Backyard cookouts and bonfires with friends

• Eating or making homemade popsicles

• Outdoor movie nights (we have a projector and screen—so fun with popcorn!)

• Eating from a food truck at least once

• A visit to the zoo

• Weekly pool days

This year, now that our oldest is getting older, I’d love to add:

• Family bowling night

• Her first trip to a movie theater

• Giving swim lessons another go—we tried last year and she did great, but I didn’t love the experience. I think we’re ready to try again.

Then, I add in specific camps or activities:

• One week of dance camp (just mornings)

• Grandma Camp—she’ll stay a few nights with her grandma, once or twice this summer

• One weekly extracurricular activity—we try to limit it to one. Gymnastics has been a favorite, so we’ll likely continue with that.

 

Making It Measurable

When I plan fun summer activities, I find it really helpful to get specific and measurable. For example:

• Ice Cream Fridays—once a week

• One pool trip per week

• Eat from a food truck at least once

I want to be able to say clearly: Yes, this happened. Even something simple like wanting to go to a ball game might not be realistic for us in this season, and that’s okay. I try to stay realistic about what fits with our family’s rhythms and energy levels.

 

Summer Projects

We also pick three summer projects—I’ve found that three feels like the right number: one per month, which is doable.

Here’s what’s on our list this year:

1. Find a new car
   We’re outgrowing ours—more space would be great, especially for the dog!

2. Finish our outdoor oasis
   We’ve been slowly working on making our backyard more functional. We’d love to add a playhouse or swing set, finish our fire pit area, and complete our wildflower garden. The goal is to have it ready to fully enjoy by fall.

3. Make progress on our attic
   I currently work in an unfinished attic—not ideal! We also need a guest room for when family visits. So we’re finally getting quotes and planning out the drywall, insulation, and everything else needed to finish that space.

 

Step Four: Create a Summer Business Plan

School might be out, but as adults, work doesn’t stop. Summer is a great time to embrace a shift in pace without letting work fall behind.

Here’s how I approach it:
How can I slow down and enjoy summer while still seeing progress in my business?

And that starts with getting super clear on my summer work hours. When am I working—and when am I not?

My oldest goes to preschool, but she doesn’t attend in the summer. However, we are incredibly lucky to have a summer nanny with us two days a week—it’s truly life-changing. Because of that, I have set hours for when I can work during the summer, and I aim for around 20 hours of work each week.

The first step in creating a business plan for the summer is to ask:
How many hours do I realistically have to work?

For some of you, your schedule might stay the same. For others, like me, who don’t have formal childcare year-round, it’s about piecing together a workable schedule with the help you have.

From there, I map out:

• What I want to accomplish

• What projects are on deck

• Any upcoming launches

• Whether I’m prepping ahead for fall

• Recording a new podcast season (hello, Season 4!)

Once I have the full list of ideas and goals, I stop and ask:
Is this realistic?

I narrow it down to the top three priorities I want to accomplish this summer, both to stay focused and to respect the limited time I actually have.

 

Cash Flow & Budgeting

Next, I look at our budget and cash flow. I ask:

• What expenses stay the same over the summer?

• Does my team structure shift?

• Are there areas where expenses drop (like taking a podcast break)?

• How much do I need to pay myself and the team?

Then, I look at income:

• What’s still selling consistently (courses, shop items, etc.)?

• Do I have any launches coming up?

• Are there any client retainers or recurring revenue still coming in?

With that full picture—what’s coming in, what’s going out—I can determine:
How much do I need to make this summer to stay on track?

If I have a gap, I ask:

• Do I need to launch something?

• Take on a new client?

• Promote an existing offer?

Looking at the money first helps me know how much needs to get done during this season, so I can plan accordingly.

 

Time Management

Once the budget and goals are clear, I look at time management:

• What tasks are most important or income-producing?

• What truly needs my energy?

• What can I delegate?

And then I carve out undistracted work time. For me, that’s usually early mornings—my friend calls this her “tiger time”—where I get the most important tasks done first. These are the things only I can do.

If you haven’t already, go listen to episode 127: What Work-Life Balance Really Looks Like as a Mom and CEO. I share my favorite time management tips for working less than 20 hours a week.

 

Budgeting for Help at Home

Lastly, I think through budgeting for help at home:

• Do I need more childcare support?

• Should I invest in a cleaner or meal delivery to lighten the load?

These small shifts can give me more capacity to enjoy summer, focus on family, and get meaningful work done without burning out.

 

What Not to Do This Summer as a Business Owner and Mom (Lessons Learned the Hard Way)

Before you finalize your summer plan—both at home and for work—here are a few things I’ve learned not to do:

1. Don’t try to run at the same pace.
   If your season looks different, your goals and energy should reflect that. This might not be the season to tackle your biggest projects—and that’s okay. For me, ironically, I actually have more childcare in the summer, so I can get a lot done. But that won’t be the case for everyone, and it’s important to honor that.

2. Don’t compare your summer to anyone else’s.
   I love slow, simple days. I get exhausted when our schedule is too packed, and I’ve had to learn to be okay saying, “We just stayed home and played,” instead of feeling pressure to have some big, Instagram-worthy answer.

3. Don’t overload your schedule.
   Whether it’s summer camps for the kids or big launches for your business, don’t try to do it all. I went back and forth for weeks about enrolling my oldest in a day camp and ultimately chose not to—I just want her home this summer, and I know I’ll never regret that choice.

4. Don’t ignore the numbers.
   Even if you’re taking it slow, staying close to your financials helps you make smart decisions. We have some amazing tools in the Creative Money Shop like the Business Stats Tracker and our Income & Expense Tracker. These help you know where you’re at with your goals, and if a Q4 launch or sale might be needed.

5. Don’t forget to plan for fall.
   Think about what you can do now to set yourself up for success later—whether that’s financial planning, business prep, or even just simplifying your schedule in advance.

 

How I Plan and Prep for Summer as a Business Owner and Mom

There you have it—how I plan and prep for the summer as a business owner and mom.

Taking the time to ask myself, What do I want this summer to look like? has made all the difference. Especially in this season of life at home, where there’s so much pressure around the idea of “only 18 summers.” (For the record—I don’t agree with that sentiment.) But as a recovering perfectionist, it gives me peace of mind to have a plan. It helps me take a deep breath, be present with my family, and still make meaningful progress in my business.

 

More from this Episode

To hear the more, press play on the player above for the full interview or click here to download the transcript.

 

📌 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Business Stats Tracker
• Monthly Business Budget Income & Expense Tracker
• Ep 127: What work-life balance really looks like as a mom and CEO
• The Essential Calendar Company. I bought the summer calendar along with this washi tape and these post-it notes to visually plan our summer and keep our bucket list top of mind.
• Nancy Ray Podcast: The Summer Plan
• Kendra Adachi Podcast : The Summer Plan