This is a great time to catch up much needed rest and relaxation and to get refreshed and ready to face those last few months of school before the freedom of summer.
Here's a few tips for both teens and parents to make the most of this time:
Teens
The more you sleep, the more tired you'll be.
Seems counter-intuitive, but you'll be more refreshed if you stick to a normal 8-10 hr sleep and then get up and move for most of the day.
Activity boosts positive feelings
Exercising your body and brain will help you feel happier. Physical exercise especially, since it releases endorphins (happy hormone) and burns off excess cortisol (stress caused), strengthening your immune system. Exercising your brain through learning new skills or accomplishing a task gives you a mental boost with feelings of accomplishment and self-esteem.
Get ahead
Of course you don't want to do homework this week, but if you know of a big project that is going to have you swamped in a month, spend a few hours on it this week. A couple hours now might save you exponential more later when the stress levels are high.
Try something new
You have the same routine day in, day out. This week, try at least one new thing. How about a project from your Pinterest board? Or maybe see how much of a new language you can learn in 5 days. For a big change, try an alternative Spring Break like Habitat for Humanity's Collegiate Challenge.
Parents
If you have to be at work while they're home, take some time in the coming weeks to sit down with them and work out a plan of action:
- Have clear ground rules set for being home alone.
- Give options: Ask them some activities that they would like to do with their free time.
- Allow them to rest. It won't be good for them to lay around all week, but let them enjoy a bit of R&R.
- Spend some quality time together just enjoying each other's company. Play a board game, see a movie, cook a meal together....
For Wichita area residents, here are some great activities to check out over Spring Break:
