You know how you feel more free and like you can do anything during the summer? Like the world is at your fingertips and the possibilities are endless. I think some of that feeling sticks around for those of us that went to school and couldn’t wait to get out for summer break. The anticipation of summer break kept you going and you just knew that this summer was going to be the best summer ever.
How would you like to feel like that all year long? Well, you totally can when you start shifting away from old thought patterns you’ve been conditioned to believe. Getting out of the school mindset is more than just deciding to homeschool and taking your kids out of the school system. It’s about the little changes you make to your daily life and the new habits you can build while breaking old ones that no longer serve you or your family.
Here are some of my top tips for creating summer vibes all year long:
- Turn off the news and daily talk shows
- The world hasn’t caught up to those of us that are forging a new path for our families through educational freedom. That’s ok, people get there in their own time. But, while you are ahead of the game, remove mainstream media from your daily routine. It gives you time to solidify your own beliefs about your journey without letting doubt creep in because of what some paid puppet has to say that doesn’t have any personal experience on the matter.
- The world hasn’t caught up to those of us that are forging a new path for our families through educational freedom. That’s ok, people get there in their own time. But, while you are ahead of the game, remove mainstream media from your daily routine. It gives you time to solidify your own beliefs about your journey without letting doubt creep in because of what some paid puppet has to say that doesn’t have any personal experience on the matter.
- Clean up your social media feed
- Similar to cutting out the news and daily talk shows, you need to also think about what you are seeing in your social media feed. You don’t have to completely avoid social media, but changing up your settings and algorithms to avoid certain things and prioritize content that is alignment with your desired path will keep you focused on what’s important to you.
- Similar to cutting out the news and daily talk shows, you need to also think about what you are seeing in your social media feed. You don’t have to completely avoid social media, but changing up your settings and algorithms to avoid certain things and prioritize content that is alignment with your desired path will keep you focused on what’s important to you.
- Evaluate your relationships
- You know how as a kid during the summer you would get closer to some friends and others you would drift away from? Well, it’s time to do that now. Do you feel stressed or insecure about homeschooling/respectful parenting after being with a friend or family member? Then, you need to start limiting your interaction with them. You don’t have to cut them out completely (unless you want to), but you also don’t have to put yourself in situations with them when you really would rather not be with them. Even if your friend group shrinks a bit, if you are with people that get your choices by supporting and respecting them, you will feel better and keep that summer vibe going.
- You know how as a kid during the summer you would get closer to some friends and others you would drift away from? Well, it’s time to do that now. Do you feel stressed or insecure about homeschooling/respectful parenting after being with a friend or family member? Then, you need to start limiting your interaction with them. You don’t have to cut them out completely (unless you want to), but you also don’t have to put yourself in situations with them when you really would rather not be with them. Even if your friend group shrinks a bit, if you are with people that get your choices by supporting and respecting them, you will feel better and keep that summer vibe going.
- Connect with those most important to you
- Prioritize your most important relationships by truly connecting with them and being fully present. It’s amazing how 30 minutes of uninterrupted time with a child can often be more impactful than an entire day of running from activity to activity can be. We all want to feel seen and heard, no matter our age. This is also true for your spouse or partner, a close friend or family member, or anyone that you would put on your short list of people to make an effort to stay connected to. Summer vibes are about being in the moment and appreciating it all. Do that.
- Prioritize your most important relationships by truly connecting with them and being fully present. It’s amazing how 30 minutes of uninterrupted time with a child can often be more impactful than an entire day of running from activity to activity can be. We all want to feel seen and heard, no matter our age. This is also true for your spouse or partner, a close friend or family member, or anyone that you would put on your short list of people to make an effort to stay connected to. Summer vibes are about being in the moment and appreciating it all. Do that.
- Make yourself a priority
- Summers as a kid often included making decisions like “this is the summer I am going to…” Fill in the blank to whatever it was for you. It doesn’t matter what it was, big or small. The point is that you made a decision to do something that was important to you no matter what anyone else thought about it. As parents and caregivers, we can very easily put everyone else’s needs before our own. Trust me, I have been there and done that. But the sentiment is true, you can’t pour from an empty cup. You have to make yourself a priority so that you can be your best for everyone else when you need to be or just want to be. Go to lunch by yourself, take that extra long bath, go to the gym, take a nap. Whatever you need, it doesn’t matter how long; 5 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, a day, a whole weekend. Just take some time to refill your cup.
- Summers as a kid often included making decisions like “this is the summer I am going to…” Fill in the blank to whatever it was for you. It doesn’t matter what it was, big or small. The point is that you made a decision to do something that was important to you no matter what anyone else thought about it. As parents and caregivers, we can very easily put everyone else’s needs before our own. Trust me, I have been there and done that. But the sentiment is true, you can’t pour from an empty cup. You have to make yourself a priority so that you can be your best for everyone else when you need to be or just want to be. Go to lunch by yourself, take that extra long bath, go to the gym, take a nap. Whatever you need, it doesn’t matter how long; 5 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, a day, a whole weekend. Just take some time to refill your cup.
- Don’t take yourself so seriously
- I think many of us parents/caregivers on the alternative education path feel like we have to prove something to the world. We are saying “NO” to a system that others rely on because we think we can do it better – which we ABSOLUTELY can and we do time and time again – and the weight of that decision sticks with us (mostly because of old conditioning that we are constantly working through). But remember, we only get this one life. We need to cherish it and not worry about what others think. Have fun with your family, let loose, act silly, forget about what anyone else is doing and just enjoy life. People remember how you made them feel – so make sure they remember how much fun they had when they were with you.
- I think many of us parents/caregivers on the alternative education path feel like we have to prove something to the world. We are saying “NO” to a system that others rely on because we think we can do it better – which we ABSOLUTELY can and we do time and time again – and the weight of that decision sticks with us (mostly because of old conditioning that we are constantly working through). But remember, we only get this one life. We need to cherish it and not worry about what others think. Have fun with your family, let loose, act silly, forget about what anyone else is doing and just enjoy life. People remember how you made them feel – so make sure they remember how much fun they had when they were with you.
- Make a one-year bucket list
- For as long as I can remember, people have made lists of all the fun things they want to do in the summer. Well, why not do it for the entire year? Your list can be short or long, just make it personal and fun. It will give you something to look forward to along with some goals for the year. Your list doesn’t have to include major things like climb Mt. Everest – although it can if you want it to! Make it a mix of simple and a little more complicated and maybe one really big one if that’s your journey. My recent list has included singing karaoke in public (I finally did it after years of thinking about it and it was fun!) and get on a plane (I hadn’t been on a plane in about 8 years after developing a fear, but I did it!). I have also just had things like, try something new and take an art class. You don’t have to be super specific. Just start thinking about it and add to the list as ideas come to you.
- For as long as I can remember, people have made lists of all the fun things they want to do in the summer. Well, why not do it for the entire year? Your list can be short or long, just make it personal and fun. It will give you something to look forward to along with some goals for the year. Your list doesn’t have to include major things like climb Mt. Everest – although it can if you want it to! Make it a mix of simple and a little more complicated and maybe one really big one if that’s your journey. My recent list has included singing karaoke in public (I finally did it after years of thinking about it and it was fun!) and get on a plane (I hadn’t been on a plane in about 8 years after developing a fear, but I did it!). I have also just had things like, try something new and take an art class. You don’t have to be super specific. Just start thinking about it and add to the list as ideas come to you.
- Get a hobby or get back to an old one
- Need something for your bucket list? Get a hobby or go back to an old one is a great place to start. Having a hobby gives you something to do to get out of the monotony of the day to day. Yes, we have to do laundry, and dishes, and clean, and walk the dog, etc. And even if you enjoy all of those things, it can get boring only doing the same things all the time. A hobby gives you an outlet for a different type of task that is just about you and your enjoyment. You don’t even have to be really good at it. You just have to find joy in it. I took up piano a few years ago and I love it. Am I great at it? No. I am not terrible either. It doesn’t really matter to me though. What matters is that I enjoy learning new songs and challenging myself. And it’s something that is just for me.
- Need something for your bucket list? Get a hobby or go back to an old one is a great place to start. Having a hobby gives you something to do to get out of the monotony of the day to day. Yes, we have to do laundry, and dishes, and clean, and walk the dog, etc. And even if you enjoy all of those things, it can get boring only doing the same things all the time. A hobby gives you an outlet for a different type of task that is just about you and your enjoyment. You don’t even have to be really good at it. You just have to find joy in it. I took up piano a few years ago and I love it. Am I great at it? No. I am not terrible either. It doesn’t really matter to me though. What matters is that I enjoy learning new songs and challenging myself. And it’s something that is just for me.
- Try something new
- Summer is a great time to try something new. Lean into that feeling of freedom and endless possibilities and do at least one new thing. Try a different flavor of coffee or tea, try a new restaurant, make a new recipe (I don’t know why all my examples are food related, lol). Keep it simple or do something huge. Just do something new.
- Summer is a great time to try something new. Lean into that feeling of freedom and endless possibilities and do at least one new thing. Try a different flavor of coffee or tea, try a new restaurant, make a new recipe (I don’t know why all my examples are food related, lol). Keep it simple or do something huge. Just do something new.
- Go outside
- Summertime is all about the outdoors. Backyard barbecues, swimming, riding bikes, going to the beach, feeling the sun on your face, or looking up at the stars in the clear night sky. There are lots of things you can do outside whether you want to spend all day out there or just a little while. Just get outside, take a deep breath and enjoy the fresh air.
- Summertime is all about the outdoors. Backyard barbecues, swimming, riding bikes, going to the beach, feeling the sun on your face, or looking up at the stars in the clear night sky. There are lots of things you can do outside whether you want to spend all day out there or just a little while. Just get outside, take a deep breath and enjoy the fresh air.
Making these small changes over time will significantly increase your overall mental health and give you a positive outlook on life and what is in store for the future. Creating a life of freedom through homeschooling/unschooling and respectful parenting will give you summer vibes all year long.
Want to talk more about homeschooling, unschooling, and respectful parenting? Email me at Stephanie@WanderLearnEducationalEmpowerment.com