Family Wellness Tip

We see this all the time with kids. You see how their knowledge grows and changes. You see how they fight to learn new things. You hear them saying "It's too hard" or "I don't want to" or "I know enough". Adults seem to do this in a little different way. Adults seem to fight a little harder. I know I do. Sometimes I get tired of learning new things or how to do things differently to be a better person. It can feel exhausting. We can use the same skills for kids as we can for ourselves. Here might be a few helpful hints for yourself (and your kids):

1. Take breaks.

   • Sometimes a break is what you need to keep moving. Find a safe & healthy way to separate and refocus. Don't let it go on for too long, reality does come knocking. BUT allow yourself some time to recover your energy.

2. Take care of your body & brain.

   • Sleep is huge. This needs to be something you make sure you do. Get between 6-10 hours of sleep a night. This helps your brain and body recover. It makes you feel more solid during the day. It makes you able to handle the new info that is coming at you.

   • Food is important. Eating food that fuels your body and brain. This is so important for the intellectual transitions. Stable blood sugar and good nutrients keeps you going longer and working better. Eating as much whole, unprocessed food. Reduce sugar. Balance protein, fats, and carbs.

3. Remember your goal.

   • Why is learning this new thing important? Does it matter to you or someone you care about? Is it going to make you better at your job or as a parent or as a person?

   • Knowing your why helps make the what easier. What that means is: know why you are doing this helps make the steps to get there easier to deal with.

4. Learning doesn't stop when school is done.

   • Learning new things often helps your brain. Some studies suggest that dementia can be pushed off completely or take longer to start if we keep our brains working. This doesn't mean going back to school to get a degree, unless that is what you want to do. This could mean learning a new skill to mastery, like knitting or cooking or rebuilding engines or local plants.

5. Mindfulness

   • Sick of this one yet? Just being aware of how you're feeling and what's going on around you can make any transition smoother. Taking small moments throughout the day to check in. To use time to think about what happened to someone to teach them how to respond that way OR what need they are trying to get met. We are often so busy checking things off our task list we can forget to be a human. This will help you and others through any transition.