Keeping the Connection: Relationship Tips for a Busy Summer
Keeping the Connection During a Busy Summer
Summer is full of sunshine, travel, and time with family and friends, but it can also get busy. Between vacations, social events, and shifting schedules, couples often find themselves more distracted and less emotionally connected during the summer months.
At My-Therapist Inc., we understand the unique challenges seasonal changes can bring to relationships. In this blog we will discuss and provide tips for keeping the connection strong all summer long, whether you're newly dating or have been married for years.
1. Be Intentional with Quality Time
Summer schedules fill up fast. With kids out of school, weekend plans, and more daylight hours, it’s easy to stay busy but miss each other emotionally.
Schedule mini “connection rituals” like a walk after dinner, coffee on the porch in the morning, or a tech-free 20-minute chat before bed. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just consistent.
2. Communicate Your Summer Expectations
One partner may want more downtime while the other wants to be social. Misaligned expectations can cause tension.
Have a weekly “sync talk” to review upcoming plans and check in emotionally. Ask:
How are you feeling about our week ahead?
What do you need from me right now?
3. Prioritize Each Other During Travel
Traveling together (or apart) can be fun, but it also introduces stress and disconnection.
If traveling together, make time for one-on-one connection outside the group setting. If apart, schedule short video or phone check-ins to keep the emotional thread intact.
4. Keep the Affection Alive
With the heat and hustle, physical affection sometimes takes a back seat.
Small acts of touch—hand-holding, hugs, a quick kiss—can go a long way in reinforcing connection and safety in the relationship.
5. Protect Your Peace, Together
Summer can bring overstimulation—too many plans, too much heat, too little rest.
Discuss your shared “social battery.” Agree to protect some downtime as a couple to rest, recharge, and say “no” when needed without guilt.
6. Schedule a Couples Check-In
Consider making space for reflection halfway through the season.
What’s been going well? What needs attention? If things feel tense or disconnected, this might be the perfect time to schedule a couples therapy session to strengthen communication and clarity.
Love Needs Intention
Summer often brings a whirlwind of activities—vacations, family gatherings, longer days, and busier schedules—which can unintentionally lead couples to drift into autopilot. But maintaining connection during this season is essential for a healthy, thriving relationship. Amid the fun and chaos, it's easy to overlook intentional communication and emotional intimacy. Making space for meaningful moments, even in small ways, helps partners stay grounded in each other and strengthens the foundation of trust, support, and love. Prioritizing connection isn’t just about avoiding conflict—it’s about growing closer, creating shared memories, and ensuring that your relationship remains a source of joy and stability no matter how full the calendar gets.
Meaningful Summer Activities For You and Your Partner:
Plan a Weekly “Heart Talk” Picnic: Grab snacks or takeout, find a shady spot, and use the time to check in emotionally.
Take a Spontaneous Day Trip: Pick a small town, local trail, or new coffee shop within an hour’s drive. Turn off the GPS, make a road trip playlist, and just explore together. The shared spontaneity fosters bonding.
Watch the Sunrise or Sunset Together: Set aside one morning or evening to sit quietly and be present with each other. Reflect on your goals, dreams, or just hold hands in stillness.
Have a No-Phones “Cook & Connect” Night: Choose a new recipe to cook together and turn off all screens. Make it fun with music, wine (or mocktails), and laughter. Cooking side-by-side promotes teamwork and physical closeness.
Try a Creative Project Together: Paint, build a vision board, write each other poems, or even make a scrapbook of your favorite summer memories. Creative collaboration strengthens emotional intimacy.
Attend a Couples Wellness Event or Class: Whether it's yoga in the park, a couples massage, or a mindfulness workshop, try something new that helps you grow as a pair.
Our Couple’s Therapy Services At My-Therapist In Wake Forest, NC
At My-Therapist Inc, we offer a range of couple’s therapy services designed to meet the diverse needs of our clients:
Couples Therapy: Specialized sessions for couples aiming to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their relationship.
Couples Therapy Intensive: Unlike traditional weekly sessions, a therapy intensive is a dedicated block of time (typically a half-day or full-day) focused exclusively on your relationship. It’s ideal for couples who want to deepen emotional intimacy, resolve longstanding issues, break through communication barriers, and more.
Virtual Couple’s Therapy: Convenient and accessible virtual therapy sessions available to clients in both North Carolina and Georgia, ensuring you can receive support for your relationship from the comfort of your home.
Couple’s Therapy Groups: Face-to-face therapy sessions available in our Wake Forest, NC office, providing a welcoming and safe environment for your therapeutic journey. Explore our upcoming Neurodivergent & Neurotypical Couple Skills and Support Group here.
Couple’s Therapy Workshops & Retreats: At My-Therapist our mission is to serve anyone in a relationship. But, we realize that not everyone can attend couples therapy or individual counseling sessions. This led us to create a series of workshops and retreats. Our upcoming couple’s workshop, “The Art & Science of Love Workshop for Couples,” emphasizes the importance of building a culture of appreciation and respect while addressing common relationship challenges. Register or find more information here.
We also offer support through premarital counseling, divorce counseling, foundations of lasting love, co-parenting counseling, and AAMFT supervision. We are dedicated to offering compassionate and effective therapy services to support your mental health and well-being. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
Begin Therapy In Wake Forest, NC Or Virtually Anywhere In North Carolina and Georgia
Our team would be honored to offer you and your partner the relationship support you need this summer. We offer couples therapy from our Wake Forest, NC-based practice and across North Carolina & Georgia via online therapy. You can meet with a caring therapist by following these simple steps today:
1. Book your initial therapy session.
2. Meet with a caring therapist.
3. Start receiving the support you and your partner deserve.
Other Mental Health Services Offered At My-Therapist In Wake Forest, NC
In addition to Couples Therapy, we offer Individual Therapy, Sex and Intimacy Therapy, Couples Intensive Therapy, Teen Therapy, Couples Retreats and Workshops, Coaching, Grief, Family Conflict, PreMarital Counseling & Coaching, Anxiety & Depression, Teen Therapy 16 & up, Faith Based Counseling