My whole life, May has crept up on me and then done a body slam.
The month is full of transitions.
We have the seasonal transition which provides energy to get outdoors.
That energy can often come with lawn work and outdoor projects to prepare for summer.
This is also the time when school is wrapping up and sports are in full swing.
Events and celebrations abound for all the young people in your life.
For the parents, the practices, games, and activities can be overwhelming.
Work pressures don’t slow down this season.
In fact, many try to wrap projects prior to Memorial Day weekend, putting on extra pressure.
Our family also has both of my kids’ birthdays in the month of May.
Clearly, we weren’t aware of the May-cember May-ham that would ensue!
Does the Challenge Really Exist?
Yes, and there’s data and psychology to back it up:
- Mental load increases: May brings a surge in “cognitive labor” as we juggle calendars, logistics, transitions, and family obligations.
- Emotional fatigue: It’s the end of a school year and four months in to running hard after annual goals. We are tired.
- Invisible expectations: Unlike December, we are less likely to take time off or grant grace to ourselves and others. It’s the same level of hectic without the low-key holiday vibe.
- Stress studies show a spike in anxiety around major life events and transitions. Depending on our specific situations in a given year, May can be packed with these.
Preparing for May-cember
With May on the horizon, now is a great time to create our personal survival guide.
Below are some proactive ways we can brace ourselves for the chaos:
- April Planning Sprint: Treat the last week of April like a mini seasonal strategy session. Start by auditing your calendar: What’s essential, what can be skipped, what needs delegation?
- Create a “May Game Plan”: Make a May-specific checklist: events, gift lists, must-dos. Prioritize based on your energy, not just urgency.
- Batch the Busy: Whenever possible, group errands (gifts, cards, outfits) into one or two shopping blocks. When you are the planner, combine celebrations where possible (e.g., May birthdays brunch).
- Fuel First: May is not the month to skimp on rest, food prep, or self-care. Try to “prep & pause” on Sundays: prep anything you can for the week ahead (meals, “kits” for activities, lunches) and schedule time for rest in the week ahead.
- Set Boundaries: Give yourself permission to say, “not this year” or “we’re simplifying.” Whenever possible, protect one weekend day per week with no obligations.
- Autopilot What You Can: Pre-schedule thank you notes, gift deliveries, teacher gifts, etc. Use calendar reminders for one-off tasks to keep mental load low.
- Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection: Check in weekly with your wins. It might not all get done, but a calm, happy version of you is the real goal.
Your Turn
Does your May often hit you with unexpected overwhelm?
What do you know you will need to juggle in this month ahead?
How can you plan in advance to reduce a bit of the May-ham?