The summer holidays are officially here and whilst for most of us they seem to have just merged into one long period of time off. After most schools shut down in some capacity back in March I don't know about you but I have found keeping the kids motivated and productive whilst off a challenge, especially since they have had such a long time off! As the months have gone on and the summer holidays have "officially" started I have found myself wanting to keep both the kids motivated, especially since they will both be returning to school full time come September, which I think will be a big shock to us all.
So I have been looking at different ways to keeps us feeling positive, motivated and productive over summer and thought I would share some of our ideas and tips in case anyone else is feeling the same.
Listen to Music
Music and productivity seem to go hand in hand for both adults and kids and can really help you get motivated for anything from a run or a session in the gym right through to school work or even housework. Housing some music playing in your headphones that you can bop along to seems to help you stop clock watching and can actually help get you into a bit of a rhythm. It can also be especially helpful if your child has some work to do but is easily distracted. Having some quiet, calm music playing along in the background can block out any other noises or distractions and help your child stay focused.
Start the Day Right
The way we start the day can make a big impact on how we feel for the rest of the day and so it's especially important that both adults and kid's start the day right. This will obviously be different for everyone but for my kids, I find we are all much more motivated if we get up, dressed and ready for the day straight away. We then have breakfast and over lockdown we actually started doing some "Cosmic Kids Yoga" over on YouTube which was actually a great motivating start to the day that got us woken up and ready to go. If you struggle with morning motivating, starting the day with a gentle yoga practice or a small workout can be a great way to kickstart the day and get you motivated.
Break the Day Up
Trying to get everything done in one day or one "session" as such can often lead to stress, distraction and feeling unmotivated with a huge task in front of you. However breaking up tasks into smaller sections or smaller more manageable tasks makes things much more realistic and with an end goal in site you often feel more motivated to get it done. Try breaking up tasks with something you enjoy, perhaps a brisk walk, watching a bit of your favourite tv show or even a spot of knitting or another craft or hobby you enjoy. Knowing once you finish the task you can do something you enjoy can really help keep you motivated and productive.
Have Something to Look Forward too
We all need a break from the hustle and bustle of every day life now and again right? Whether that be a day to switch off your laptop or booking a break away to escape it all, having something to look forward to can be a great motivator. If you don't have any plans to go away this year that doesn't mean you can't have something to look forward too! You could plan a family barbeque at home, a pamper evening or even a catch up with friends for a few drinks. Knowing you have something to look forward to in the not so distant future is a great way to stay positive.
Create a Summer Holiday Mood Board or Wishlist
One thing me and the kids love doing every summer holidays is creating a "wish list" style mood board with all the things on it we want to do over the summer. We don't always get them all done, but it's a great way to have lots of ideas in place to choose from. We all sit together and all throw our ideas into the hat, it can be as extravagant as a holiday or as simple as baking or arts and crafts. We try to add a range of things on there that we would all love to do and then when we need a little pick me up, we have a spare day or a few hours to kill we pick something off the board and tick it off. We hang it up in the living room or kitchen and then when we are having a day or getting stuff done, chores, work, school stuff we can look up and see all the things we have been doing and all the things we are yet to do. Its such a fun and simple idea but something that can motivate the whole family together.
I would love to hear all about how you all keep motivated during the summer (and during the lockdown and pandemic too!) so please do share in the comments below.
xXx
**This is a collaborative post.**
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