It’s a familiar story: kids are off school for forever. And routine goes out of the window! Many of you will be juggling childcare and work. And though it can feel relentless, it doesn’t have to be a disaster. But it DOES take some extra effort.
Plan plan plan!
How many times do I say this??? I mean it. If you’re waking up thinking: “what are we going to do today?” you’re on the back foot already. So plan:
- What are you going to do with the children?
- What are you going to eat if you’re out on a day trip?
- What will you eat in the evening?
How much work do you need to get done. And when are you going to do it?
Do it now!
It’s such a cliché but failure to plan is planning to fail.
Get your training done early
Whether you’re going away or staying home, get your session done first thing. You’re not going to feel like it after a day in the sun by the pool or after trudging around Wisley with an over-tired and grumpy child. Plus, once it’s done, you have the added benefit of feeling smug all day!
- Book into the classes so that you’re committed.
- Can’t come to class? There will be recorded sessions or instructions to sessions available. Make sure you now where to find them
- Remember a speedy workout is better than none at all!
Watch out for decision fatigue
This applies generally but more so during the holidays. Decision fatigue is when you literally get tired of making all the decisions. And whenever the children are off school, there’s more decisions to make: where to go, what to do, who to see, when to leave, what to take. And constantly deciding on to eat, prepping what to eat and tidying up!
I like to give myself a break from some of this by reducing some of my choices. So for example my breakfasts are almost always egg based and my lunches are always salad based. Particularly in times when I’m feeling edgy or overwhelmed (like school holidays), knowing what I’m eating for half of my meals means I simply need to execute without internal debates or questions.
Take packed lunches
It can be hard to get a good lunch when out and about with the kids. So I recommend packing your own. However, beware! Packed lunches can often lead to mindless grazing. So just pack what you need for you and for the kids, in separate boxes. That way you’re not tempted to finish the pack of sausage rolls, after you’ve had your sensible salad!
Have a treat, occasionally!
If you’re going to have a treat, have a real treat. Make it a proper one. What I mean is, don’t just finish your child’s cookie without thinking about it, just because it is there.
Have a real treat. Choose it carefully, make it something that you really fancy. And enjoy it, mindfully! And occasionally.
Use your NEAT
Be as active as possible: use the stairs, walk to the shops, do some gardening, play tag with the kids., walk around the park while the children are occupied on swings and stuff. The energy we burn through this sort of activity is called non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) and plays a great role in how much energy is metabolized on a daily basis. Choose activities that will support this e.g. walk in the park vs the cinema!
Eating out? Use the 2 from 4 method.
What is it? Simple. If you’re eating out, you can typically order from 4 categories.
- Starter
- Main
- Dessert
- Alcohol
The 2 from 4 method suggests that you should choose just 2 out of these 4 categories. Like, main plus alcohol. Or main and dessert. But not all four. So you can indulge. Just not too much.
Decide what staying on track looks like
Depending on your plans for the holidays, you might want to set some mini-objectives. Is it pretty much business as usual? Or are you going to be significantly disrupted from your routine? What does staying on track look like? Is it the same as non-holiday time? Or do you want a little bit more leeway?
If so, what does this look like? Be specific. Think about the main things that will be making a difference:
- Food
- Snacks / treats
- Alcohol
- Sleep
- Exercise
- Activity levels
Think about where you want to be at the end of the summer
What do you want to be saying to yourself after the holidays?
Do you want to be saying: Yay! Well done me! I did it. I feel brilliant and don’t feel like I missed out. I was sensible and I can see and feel the results.
Visualise yourself saying this. Feeling it and believing it. Spend a few minutes every morning thinking of where you want to be and why this is important.
You are in control of your outcomes.
You just need to decide which outcome you want.
