The Summer That Taught Me to Slow Down

The García Shenanigans
Jun 30
4 min read

I have always felt the need to stay busy because, to me, being busy meant being productive.

But... I was wrong.

Busy does not always mean productive.

For a long time, I measured my days by how much I accomplished. If I checked every box on my to-do lost, I felt succesful. If I slowed down, I felt like I had somehow wasted the day.

Can anyone else relate?

So....What Is Productivity?

I've recently had to take a step back and slow down. The kids and I are on summer break, which means our family's routine has completely changed. The structured schedule we've followed all school year has suddenly disappeared.

At first, I wasn't sure what to do with myself. Adjusting to this new normal has been challenging, necessary, and suprisingly...beautiful.

And to be completely transparent with you, I am not sure why this year was so different. After all, I have been through this cycle for over 18 years now.

My Normal

During the school year, my mornings begin around 5:30 a.m.

I try to spend time in prayer and worship before the rest of the house wakes up. I squeeze in a 30-minute workout, get ready for the day, prepare the kids for school, and then shift into work or schoolwork from home.

By mid-afternoon, it's time to pick everyone up, help with homework, think about dinner, try to pick the house up (with the kid's help), get showers started, prepare everyone for bed, and finally spend intentional time with my husband before ending my own day with homework or other responsibilities.

And that's only a "normal" day.

Sports practices

Volunteer work.

Appointments.

Church.

Unexpected errands.

Somehow, it all gets done. Or at least....we try.

Then Summer Arrived

Now?

There are no alarm clocks unless we actually have somewhere to be. Breakfast happens whenever hungry little voices decide it's time.

There are no school drop-offs.

No homework.

No after-school rush.

Our days are slower, more spontaneous, less planned and honestly.... that made me uncomfortable.

Why Slowing Down Feels So Hard

It took me longer than I'd like to admit to adjust.

I felt...lost, maybe even guilty. I kept thinking,

"I'm not doing enough."

"I should be accomplishing more."

"I'm wasting time."

Psychology often refers to this as self-worth contingency; the tendency to tie our value to our achievements or productivity. When we've spent years rewarding ourselves for constantly doing more, our brains begin to associate being busy with being valuable.

Over time, productivity stops being something we do and becomes who we think we are. So when life naturally slows down, it can almost feel like we've lost part of our identity. Maybe that's why rest can sometimes feel uncomfortable instead of refreshing.

God Never Asked Us To Earn Our Worth

The more I sat with these feelings, the more I realized something.

God never asked us to prove our worth through constant productivity. In fact, he modeled rest. Not because he needed it... but because we do!

Psalm 46:10 reminds us, "Be still, and know that I am God."

Notice it doesn't say, "Be productive", "Be Busy", "Be exhausted".

It simply says.... Be still.

A New Definition of Productivity

Maybe productivity isn't about how many tasks we complete.

Maybe productivity looks like... sleeping in, laughing around the breakfast table, sitting on the couch watching a movie with your kids, having an unhurried conversation with your spouse. Or watching your children play outside instead of worrying about the dishes. Reading a book, taking a nap, calling your mom, or praying without checking the time.

Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is nurture the relationships that matter most.

After all, no one reaches the end of life wishing they had answered one more email. Most people wish they had spent more time with the people they loved.

This Summer, I'm Choosing Presence

One day it finally hit me.

It's ok to slow down. It's ok for this season to look different. it's ok if there isn't a perfectly planned routine. Because this season won't last forever. My children won't always want to spend their afternoons with me. There will come a day when the house will be quiet again.

So this summer....

I'm choosing presence over pressure. Connection over contant productivity, and memories over milestones.

No deadlines.

No unnecessary guilt.

No measuring my worth by my checklist.

Just a summer filled with laughter, relaxation, sticky popsicle fingers, spontaneous adventures, meaningful conversations, and love.

Because maybe....

The most productive thing I can do this summer....is simply be their mom.