Unburdening Summertime to Promote Flourishing Four Practices to Consider this Summer
We all want to fill our summer with good things. It’s easy to imagine, as one activity is added after another, that each of these good opportunities piles more good into our summer. Yet, the reality is that so often as we do this, our lives become unintentionally overscheduled, leaving our days crammed and our spirits exhausted. Sometimes, in our efforts to provide ample opportunities for healing or growth for our children, we may inadvertently displace or weaken some of the most central sources of good in their lives. We want to invite you to consider a different way for your family and those you love this summer to experience flourishing in your home.
Plan space for rest. Block off time for rest in your schedule as a commitment. Block off time for ample sleep. So often, we make our lives much more difficult just by not giving sleep sufficient place in our lives. Yet, our attitudes, relationships and behavior are heavily influenced by this basic habit of health. The CDC recommends that infants get 1216 hours, toddlers 11-14, preschoolers 10-13, school-age children 9-12, teens 8-10, and adults 7-9. Practice taking a Sabbath day of rest for the whole family each week. Instead of letting errands, chores, and work creep into each day, cluster these things so that one whole day is devoted to pure relaxation, doing nothing that is focused on productivity or accomplishment.
Block space for time together. To prioritize what’s most important to you, block time off to be together as a family. Schedule time to gather together daily, especially around meals. Putting screens away and cultivating joy at mealtime is also strongly associated with eating more produce and having better eating habits. Great habits for everyone! Envision times to pray together, whether one-on-one with a child or all together.