Slow Down. Say No. Walk More.

A couple of years ago, when I was in the middle of a very stressful period of the school year, I took some time to think about what would be most helpful. I came up with the phrase above: Slow down. Say no. Walk more.

Slow down. How often do we make time in our day for prayer and reflection? Time to just "be" rather than to be constantly "doing?" In everyone's lives, students, parents, and staff alike, we equate "doing" things with being productive. While it's true that there are many things that must be done each day (homework, housework, reports, projects, meetings) it's also true that we'll burnout quickly if we don't take time to slow down, reflect, and take time for prayer, for reading, for meditation.

Say no. We've been conditioned to say "yes" much more easily than we say "no." Often this comes from a need to please others, to be helpful, to be respected. And yet saying "no" can protect precious time from being squandered on things that may be urgent, but aren't in the long run the most important or the best use of our time. Does your child really need one more activity? Do they have any time during the week to just go outside and play? Can your child amuse himself for a sustained period of time, following his or her own interests?

I'm an introvert by nature, so as a child I enjoyed solitary pursuits: reading, writing my own "books," needlework and crafts. As an adult, those pursuits are still the ones I enjoy the most. Does your child have time to discover what she's passionate about? (I still played team sports and enjoyed being active in our church's "Teen Club," so having time for yourself doesn't mean isolation.)

Walk more. It's far too easy to "sit" - in school, at home doing homework, in the car to and from school and events. That's just as true for children as it is for adults. I've been using a "Fitbit" pedometer for over a year now, and I'm amazed at how easy it is to put more movement in my day - when I'm aware that I should walk more. Walking upstairs to talk to a teacher rather than sending an email, visiting classrooms instead of sitting in meetings, and being outside more in general during the day can make all the difference between a highly sedentary 4,000 steps a day and a much healthier 10,000 steps a day. (Clearly, I still have to remind myself to work at this one!)

Can your child walk or ride a bike to school? Walk over to a friend's house? Walk to the park or ride a bike around the neighborhood? Walking more is a simple, easy way to encourage healthier levels of activity.

Recently, the Grosse Pointe Patch had a great article subtitled "Why less is more." This article gives practical, helpful suggestions for ways to "say no" and avoid the over-scheduled child. How can  you use these ideas in your family life? Let us know in the comments!