Summer is a busy time for youth workers. But even during this season of the year, you don't have to become overwhelmed and exhausted. You can survive summer and feel rested as the school year starts again. I want to suggest five things you can do this summer to help find that rest you deserve and need.

1. Continue to take your off day.
You are taking an off day, right? I don't mean just having a day you call your "off day" but continue to come into the office, make phone calls, and check email. I mean a real off day, one where you spend time away from youth ministry responsibilities. If you don't have one of those days, stop right now and figure out how to start. (Do not worry, we'll still be here—floating around the Internet when you get back.)

The summer isn't the time to start working 7 days a week. (Unless you're at camp or a trip, which just means you need to take an extra day off afterward.) Taking a day off every week in the summer helps keep you from wearing yourself out physically and emotionally. When you take an off day, you will notice an improvement in your ability to minister on the days you're working.

2. Take vacation before/after the busiest time of the summer.
With so few weeks to get everything done during the summer, it's tempting to neglect taking vacation. Why would any youth worker take an entire week away from the students when this is prime time to minister? Because that youth worker knows the impact of the rest of the summer depends on it. Obviously I'm not suggesting you randomly (foolishly) pick any week during the summer to take vacation. There are certain weeks that will be better than others. You can't take vacation during the week you're helping with VBS or camp. And it might not be wise to take vacation the week before a mission trip or week-long conference.

Try taking vacation a few weeks before a big trip, that way you still have time to take care of any final details. Or if the first part of the summer is event heavy, wait to take your vacation after its all done. This will give you a chance to relax without any need to think about an upcoming event. Whether you take your vacation before or after a busy season doesn't matter, what does matter is that you take vacation.

3. Take a day trip with the family.
Take your family out of town and just enjoy some time together. You don't have to drive far or spend a lot of money in order for it to be effective. The goal of getting away from your town is to not see people you know. You want to have the entire day away from ministry responsibilities, which might mean you leave your cell phone on vibrate or just don't answer it every time it rings. Use this time to make memories with your family, they matter more than the youth ministry summer calendar.

4. Do something without students.
I know the impact involving students in your life can have. I believe strongly in allowing students to work alongside you on projects around your house or at church. But there are times when you just need to have some time away from students. Give yourself time to work on a project without inviting one of the freshmen over to help you. Working with students is what you do for a living and when you invite students to help with projects around the house, you are working. Instead, spend this time talking to God and listening to Him speak into your life.

5. Eat/Sleep/Pray.
Every day in the summer will come and go quickly. You might neglect many little items on your to-do list, but these three items cannot be neglected. Eat three meals every day and you will have more energy to minister. Sleep is important, but easily neglected when you have late nights and early mornings. Sleep later into the morning when you are up late with a student. And on that rare occasion you don't have anything going on in the evening, go to bed early and allow your body to rest.

Finally, and most importantly, spend time alone with God. Don't neglect your prayer time and Bible study during the summer. Plan for it and put it on your calendar. Nothing else you will do this summer will refresh you as much as spending time with your Heavenly Father. He wants to continue to mold and shape you, just as much as you want to minister to the students.

If your summer calendar is too full to include time to rest, you need to find a way to adjust it. The people around you do not need a youth worker who is tired. They need you to be well-rested and modeling healthy behavior.

How are you finding rest this summer?

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