The kids are out of school and summer time is officially here! Along with the beautiful weather, summer time can be full of extra family time and fun free play. It can also be a more stressful time, with increased opportunities for personalities clashing, kids facing boredom, or uneasy feelings of transitioning into a new schedule.
Taking a few minutes each day to connect to your kids and yourself can help relieve stress, increase connectedness, and cultivate more happiness in everyone’s day. Spending even one minute (really just 60 seconds can have an effect) every day thinking about what you are grateful for, or what makes you happy puts the focus on the positive aspects in your life. What you focus your energy on grows!
Start by finding a set time each day to “check in” such as at dinner or bedtime. This will help you and your family make it a daily ritual. Try using a few of the following questions during your check-in time:
- What is one good thing you want to do for someone today?
- What are you most grateful for today?
- What did you do today that you want to do again?
Studies show It takes 21 days of daily repetition of new behavior to become a habit, so challenge your family to a 3-week daily gratitude check-in. Set a reward for the end of the three weeks, such as celebrating with a family movie night, or a day at the beach!
Wishing everyone a summer filled with moments to be grateful for!
Robyn Myhr is a Montclair mom and co-founder, along with Mika Panchal, of The Mindful Tribe, a local community group, which meets holds gatherings several times a month. The Mindful tribe is holding a #mindfulminutes challenge on Instagram or Facebook encouraging you to post one image each day, for 21 consecutive days, of the things that you are grateful for from July 1 – 21. And don’t forget to mention @THEMINDFULTRIBE and #mindfulminutes in each of your posts
For more inspiration and connection visit The Mindful Tribe email here.
Every family, every child in our community should read this and really feel gratitude:
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/22/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-for-these-2-women-the-lottery-of-birth-decides-opportunity.html?_r=0
It’s definitely important to stop and be reminded of the small things we can do for others, as well as what has been done for us. Especially on the more hectic days that can narrow our focus on the Good.
Great questions. Thanks for article.
I am full of gratitude for this article, brimming with gratitude, overflowing actually, in fact it’s spilling onto my pants, dribbling into my shoes, f*ck those dry-cleaning bills, and now I’m going to miss the train, argh!