Mid-Summer Check-In: Whatβs Actually Filling Your Bucket?
Aug 04, 2025The calendar may say we still have a few weeks of summer left, but for many of us corporate working moms, the mental shift toward back-to-school season is already creeping in. That’s why this moment, right now, is a perfect time to pause and check in:
Is this summer actually filling your bucket?
Or have you been running on autopilot, trying to make it magical for everyone else while leaving yourself out of the picture? I hope not, but that’s the reality we live in….
This post isn’t about guilt or “shoulds.” It’s an invitation to reflect, recalibrate, and reclaim what matters most to you before the season slips away.
What I’m Loving So Far This Summer
When I reflect on this summer, I realize I’ve been more intentional than in years past, and I’m feeling the difference.
- I’m loving the longer days and slower mornings with my boys.
- I’m grateful for my firm’s July 4th week shutdown, which allowed me to truly unplug without feeling like I was falling behind at work.
- My boys are thriving at camp, James is in heaven, and Joey, after being “over it” last year, is finding his groove again as he inches toward being a CIT.
- Friday lunch dates with Andy have become a weekly highlight, just us, no kids, no agenda.
- I’ve been actively prioritizing rest, presence, and exploration: more time outdoors, more unstructured fun, more time with friends.
And even though our August vacation plans are still TBD, I’m holding that week as sacred. We’re going somewhere, and we’re going to be together.
Most importantly, I’ve been speaking up. I’m asking for what I need at work. I’m advocating for time, space, and flexibility, and still meeting my deadlines and showing up as a high-performing professional.
What Fun Really Means (Thanks, Lydia Millen)
Reading the summer section of Evergreen by Lydia Millen reminded me of something powerful: fun doesn’t have to be elaborate, expensive, or Instagram-worthy.
Especially as corporate working moms, fun can simply mean being present, taking time off, and making space for your joy, not someone else’s version of it.
Lydia shares some science that backs this up:
- Fun and joy release serotonin and reduce cortisol, helping regulate stress.
- They boost creativity, clarity, sleep quality, and energy levels.
- Engaging in real joy actually makes us sharper, hello, work goals!
She also gently challenges the guilt we carry around rest. Many of us have nervous systems wired for productivity. So when we rest, we feel unsettled or even guilty. But that guilt doesn’t serve us, or our families or teams. Rest is not a reward; it’s a requirement.
3 Questions for Your Own Mid-Summer Reflection
If you’re reading this and realizing you haven’t quite gotten what you needed out of summer yet, that’s OK! You still have time. Start here:
- What have you actually done for yourself this summer?
(For me: a spa day with a girlfriend, intentional time off, reading again, finally!) - Have you been defaulting to what others need?
Where might you lovingly step back and reclaim space for yourself? - What moments have genuinely felt restorative and joyful?
Could you create more of those,on purpose, before the season ends?
Still Time to Fill Your Bucket
Here’s your permission slip:
β Pull out your calendar.
β Schedule a half-day for you.
β Plan that mini trip.
β Say no to one more BBQ and yes to a nap.
β Read a book, take a solo walk, book the pedicure.
There’s still time to have a summer that fills your bucket.
Not the kind of summer that looks good on social media, the kind that feels good in your bones.
Your Turn
Before summer fades, I encourage you to make your own “Bucket-Filler List.” Just 3–5 things that light you up. Big or small. Personal or shared. Fun for the sake of it.
And if you want to go deeper, ask yourself:
How can I advocate for what I need, and set boundaries to protect it, so I don’t lose myself in the rush of fall?
Because you deserve a summer that energizes you, not just everyone else.
With love,
Erin
