How to Plan for the Next School Break

 

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How to Plan for the Next School Break

Children go to school 180 days a year, leaving you with little time to enjoy as a family during the school year. However, winter break usually lasts a little over a week, and spring break is only a few days, both of which are prime times for you and your family to spend quality time together. Today, My Warrior Mom Life has some tips to help make the next break more special.

Mini Vacation Destinations Ideas

While your children are home from school, plan a mini vacation. Visit a local inn or hotel with a pool. Consider having dinner delivered to your room as you and the entire family lounge in your pajamas, just relishing your time together.

Instead of an overnight trip, take day trips, and visit different local destinations during the break. For instance, visit a science center, play center, museum, library, or planetarium. Try to vary what you do, so all your children do something they enjoy. It also keeps your kids interested and entertained throughout the break.

Stay-at-Home Vacation Ideas 

If you have to work during the kids’ school break and can’t get away, a road trip is probably out of the question. However, with a little planning, a winter or spring break at home can be just as entertaining.

First, stay as comfortable as possible. It’s easier to run after the children if you wear something comfortable, like this lounge dress; click here to plan ahead and purchase a few new comfy clothing items. Your children may appreciate a new pair of pajamas, too, so they can remain comfortable, as well.

While you’re at home, consider scheduling a day to play board games or do arts and crafts. Designate one evening as a movie night where the family snuggles in the living or family room. When you’re deciding on a movie, it’s best to take a vote. Another idea is to have a spa day and pretend you and your family are lounging at a luxury resort.

Preparing for the Vacation 

Whether you’re planning to go away for the school break or stay home, start prepping for this time in advance. Finish all the laundry, run any errands, and clean the house before the school break. Don’t forget to go grocery shopping and select snacks everyone loves. Once you handle those tasks, you have nothing to focus on other than enjoying your time with the family.

Rules to Make the Most of This Time

Make it a time for little to no electronics. Savor every moment you can together without any distractions. Although your children may be a bit frustrated at first, once they’re having fun, they’re likely to forget all about their phones and tablets. Stick together most of the time to encourage interaction rather than having everyone disperse into their rooms. Also, avoid letting the kids stay up extremely late, so they wake up at a reasonable time and are in good spirits the next day.

Make the Next School Break a Time To Remember

With a game plan, you can make your children’s next school break a time for family and one they may remember forever. A little planning can make it more memorable (and less stressful) for you, as well.

My Warrior Mom Life is here to help parents like you navigate the modern world. Click here if you have any questions!

Navigating Common Mental Health Challenges as a Teen or Young Adult

There’s no denying that mental health can be tricky terrain to navigate, especially for teenagers and young adults who are still in the process of understanding and developing their sense of self. Anxiety and depression are two of the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses, and they present unique challenges to young people. My Warrior Mom Life delves into some of these challenges and shares tips for fostering your mental health:

Stigma

One of the biggest challenges of anxiety and depression for young people is the stigma surrounding mental illness. Many people still believe that mental illness is something you can control or cure by sheer willpower — or that it’s a sign of weakness. As such, many young people neglect to get help because they don’t want to be perceived as weak, or they fear being judged or ostracized.

Lack of Understanding

Another major hurdle for young people is when their friends and family members fail to understand their anxiety or depression. Loved ones may not be able to grasp the severity of a young person’s illness, or they might dismiss symptoms as mere mood swings or teenage behavior. This makes it difficult for teens and young adults to get the support they need from those closest to them.

Navigating School and Work

Going to school and holding down a job can be difficult when you live with anxiety and depression. Difficulty, concentration, fatigue, and social avoidance are a few symptoms that make it hard to keep up with schoolwork, attend classes, and participate in extracurricular activities. If you struggle to concentrate on your tasks or interact with coworkers, this can also lead to poor job performance.

Consider the benefits of getting an online college degree. With the flexibility it offers, online learning lets you pursue your studies at your own pace and helps you balance work and personal commitments.

If you’re passionate about numbers, you might pursue an online accounting degree. This flexible learning option allows you to study from the comfort of your home and home so that you can balance your education with other commitments. An online accounting degree furthers your career, and immersing yourself in courses tailored to your interests will help you develop technical proficiency and a deeper understanding of the financial landscape.

Isolation

Anxiety and depression can be isolating illnesses, and many young people with these conditions feel alone or misunderstood. Some even descend into hopelessness or despair because they feel like they’re the only ones going through such experiences. Those who don’t have a support system often feel like they have nowhere to turn, exacerbating symptoms and making recovery even more difficult.

Accessing Professional Help

One of the biggest challenges for young people with anxiety and depression is getting professional help. If you’re like many other teens or young adults, you’re still dependent on your parents for financial support, and accessing treatment can be expensive. Plus, insurance may not cover the cost of your mental health treatment, and transportation to and from appointments can be hard if you don’t have access to a car.

Take time to research the online therapy options available to you. Telehealth continues to rise in popularity, and you may be able to get the services you need without leaving home.

Wrapping Up

Navigating mental health can be challenging for anyone, but young people with anxiety and depression face unique obstacles. From stigma and a lack of understanding to the challenges of school and work, isolation, and access to health, teens and young adults must tread complex terrain to get the support they need.

By increasing awareness surrounding these challenges, we can work to destigmatize mental illness and increase access to resources for those who need them. And if you are a young person living with mental illness, remember that communicating clearly with the people closest to you can go a long way toward regaining control and balance in your life. Don’t be afraid to reach out to get the help you need.

If you enjoyed this article, you can find more helpful content on MyWarriorMomLife.com!