As vacations and long summer days draw to a close, many of us ask: how can I hold on to this energy a little longer?
It’s not uncommon to feel a pinch of anxiety as shorter, darker days approach. For working parents, especially those of us in the “sandwich generation” balancing careers, children, tricky logistics, and aging parents, this transition can feel particularly heavy. The sense of lightness and spaciousness that summer brings often collides with the reality of full calendars and mounting responsibilities.
Why Vacation Alone Isn’t the Answer
While it would be nice if a vacation could “fix” stress or exhaustion, the reality is that no week/s away can undo chronic overwhelm or burnout. Work, caregiving, and daily life continue, and often the “vacation glow” fades quickly once we’re back in routine.
But here’s the encouraging part: research shows that small daily practices make a real difference. Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson (2001), in her broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, found that micro-moments of joy and renewal don’t just make us feel good in the moment; they actually expand our long-term resilience. Even tiny experiences of gratitude, connection, or calm help us build a buffer against stress.
In other words, the energy we need for busy seasons is not only found in rare stretches of time off. It can be built, moment by moment, in our everyday lives.
The Energy Audit: A Practical Reflection
This is where an energy audit can help. Think of it as taking inventory: not of your finances or time, but of the activities, people, and habits that either give you energy or drain it away.
While you’re still in a reflective, vacation mindset, take a moment to ask yourself:
- 💡 What drained me last year? Certain commitments, routines, or unhelpful thought patterns?
- 💡 What energized me? Which habits, mindsets, or moments left me feeling grounded and alive?
- 💡 What did I rediscover on vacation? A novel-reading ritual? Long walks with family? Fresh flowers on the table? Time in nature?
- 💡 What boundaries preserved my peace? Did I limit screen time, say “no” more often, or carve out quiet moments just for myself?
Even if your vacation was far from restful -something many caregivers know all too well -this exercise is especially important. It’s a way to intentionally design your return to daily life, by asking: what boundaries, habits, and supports do I need in place when routines start again?
Carrying Summer Forward
Sustaining energy isn’t about recreating vacation in daily life. It’s about carrying forward its essence: the rituals, boundaries, and mindful moments that helped you feel lighter and more present.
That might mean keeping a new reading habit alive, preserving time for family walks, or holding onto an early-morning ritual before the household wakes. It could be as simple as pausing long enough to enjoy a coffee, or placing fresh flowers on the table to bring a touch of beauty into your day.
These may sound small, but they are not trivial. They are the building blocks of resilience. As Kierkegaard once observed: “Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it.” The challenge is not only to create these moments, but to notice them, and to give them value in a world that often urges us to rush.
A Closing Reflection
As autumn routines settle in, energy is less about sweeping lifestyle overhauls and more about intentional micro-practices. Which small rituals will you preserve? What boundaries will protect your peace? How can you design days that hold space not just for doing, but for being?
For me, the answer lies in a few simple snapshots of energy I want to be intentional about keeping alive. Because energy isn’t built only on vacations. It’s built, moment by moment, in the everyday.
