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Spring break is next week, and it’s a well-earned time to relax and unwind. It’s important to use spring break to properly rest, recharge, and have some fun, and to make the most of the week. While it can be tempting to avoid any plans at all during the break, our brains crave structure and tend to feel more stressed and unhappy without it. Creating structure doesn’t have to get in the way of fun or relaxation, however. Follow these tips for creating some structure during the break while still prioritizing fun.
A great place to start in creating structure for the week is to set some goals. These goals can be around productivity if you want, but they definitely don’t have to focus on anything productive. Making time to relax, practicing a new dance, and spending time with friends are all wonderful goals for the break. Knowing what your goals are for the week will help you prioritize what’s important as the week passes and help you create a plan to make sure you accomplish what’s most important.
One of the easiest ways to create structure in an unstructured week is to make a daily schedule for yourself. Without this schedule, it is very easy for days to get away from you, and can be very difficult to get yourself to do anything, even if it’s something you want to do. Creating a schedule can help you avoid these issues and accomplish your goals. This schedule should be conducive to the type of spring break you want to have. If it’s important to you to sleep in every day on spring break, have your schedule reflect that. If you want to nap every day or allot a daily hour to video games, build it into your schedule. This schedule should reflect how you want to spend your week, while providing some structure to help you transition between tasks and accomplish all of your goals.
A great way to accomplish everything you want to do during spring break is to create a to do list. Again, this to-do list does not have to contain productive things, but it might. Perhaps you want to finally reorganize your room during this time. Maybe it’s the week you’re finally going to finish the drawing you started months ago or the poem you’ve been writing. Making a list of everything you’d like to accomplish is a great step in planning out your week. Once you have the list, you can start thinking about when you have time to complete each task. Throughout the week, any time you find yourself with free time, you can refer to the list and find some direction on what to do next.
Making plans on specific days is a great way to add some structure to your week. It will help you make sure you see every friend you want to see and accomplish every task on your list. Without planning specific days, it’s likely that your whole week will go by without you realizing it’s almost over. As you scramble to make plans toward the end of the week, you might find that people are busy or certain tasks can no longer be completed. Making plans on specific days can help you create some structure to your week while still allowing lots of space for free time.
Another great thing to keep in mind when adding structure to your week is to get out of the house. You don’t necessarily need to go anywhere. A walk around the block to see the sun is enough. During a break, it can be easy to let a whole day go by without leaving the house. While this concept might seem appealing, it will overall make you feel worse, leading to tiredness, irritability, and even stress. For this reason, make it a point to leave the house every day to make sure you are giving your body and mind the sunlight and fresh air they crave.
Creating structure in your life is an important task, but it’s not easy. For young adults, especially those with ADHD, structure is essential to success, but can feel impossible to implement. If you or your child needs help adding some structure in your life, consider success coaching. Our approach at YA Success Coach emphasizes getting to know you as an individual and helping you develop systems that will support your unique needs and goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve success.
Having a conversation is the first step to helping your child realize their full potential and set them up for success!