By Amy Brann
For many, summer conjures images of carefree days, beach trips, and backyard barbecues. But for working parents, the season often brings anything but relaxation.
School鈥檚 out, routines are disrupted, childcare is patchy at best, and the pressure to create 鈥減erfect summer memories鈥 can feel relentless.聽
Behind the scenes, there鈥檚 a real neurological reason why summer can feel so overwhelming 鈥 and fortunately, there are also ways to ease the strain.
Why summer feels harder than it looksWhen we think of stress, we usually imagine work deadlines, financial worries, or late-night emails. But the brain doesn鈥檛 just respond to high-stakes events 鈥 it responds to change. And summer is full of it.
1. The brain鈥檚 need for predictabilityOur brains crave predictability. The prefrontal cortex 鈥 the part responsible for planning, problem-solving, and emotional regulation 鈥 relies on routines to stay efficient.
When school ends and schedules get thrown out the window, the brain has to work overtime to fill in the bla