The weather this week has been lovely. The children have been playing in the school yards and the commuters are riding their bikes. Yet today, a PA Day for the Toronto District School Board, the weather is overcast and it is set to rain. I’m sure lots of parents opted for indoor activities such as the Science Centre, the Aquarium, and the movie theatre. Some may have thrown caution to the wind and gone to the zoo. I wonder how many parents decided to have a day of rest.
As adults, we live in a highly scheduled environment with deadlines and daily lists of tasks. Our job as parents, is to teach our child to be self-sufficient and learn to prioritize. However, there are lots of people,who have learned to never unplug. They are not taking all of their vacation time and when they do take a few rare days off, they still check emails. This means we are teaching our children that we as individuals should not be one of the items on the daily priority list.
So here is a task for your next vacation day or PA Day … PLAN NOTHING. Sleep in late, cuddle on the couch, build a lego fortress, colour/draw or read a book. Give yourself permission to be unscheduled … and save some money in the process too.
LEARNING TO SPROUT:
How Successful People Work Less and Get More Done | Entrepeneur
Excellent article that discusses how working more does not make you more productive. It encourages a list of tasks at work and home BUT in a way that urges readers to disconnect, enjoy family time, and rule the work instead of letting the work rule you.
5 Signs you’re Overscheduled | MindBodyGreen
I am fairly certain that everyone I know is guilty of at least one of the five. Sprouting Balance is about reducing and/or eliminating items like these.
SPROUTING CREATIVITY:
Five of the Best: Adult Colouring-in Printables | Fat Mum Slim
Remember one of my ideas of an at home day? Have you tried colouring? Not Dora, Cookie Monster or Elsa – adult designs. It is surprisingly therapeutic; just trust me on this one. If you can’t find a pattern online, there are several books available at arts stores.
SPROUTING [P]INSPIRATION:
Looking for some ideas on recipes, organization or things to do with your Lil Sprout? Come check out my Pinterest page and the things that inspire me to become more balanced.
In the comments, please share articles that you read this week that helped you SPROUT some BALANCE! And remember to follow us and SPROUT a conversation on Twitter.
Sprouting Balance 