*
Mental Speed Bumps:
On any given day, so many of us live below our optimum potential. That’s why we ask parents and teens to challenge their attention and the way they spend their time during the day with the use of mental speed bumps.
Mental speed bumps are momentary pauses between the tasks we are currently doing at any given time of the day to check where we are with our short- and long-term goals. They give us a chance to course correct if what we’re doing at that moment is not really adding value to our life’s bigger mission and purpose.
Drawing, doodling, scribbling, it doesn’t mean you’re off task. In fact, it can help your cognition, memory and even help you relax.
*
Get More Done When You Work Less:
“The critical thing to recognize is that when we are letting our minds wander, when our minds don’t have any particular thing they have to focus on, our brains are pretty darn active. When you do things like go for a long walk, your subconscious mind keeps working on problems. The experience of having the mind slightly relaxed allows it to explore different combinations of ideas, to test out different solutions.
And then once it has arrived at one that looks promising—that is what pops into your head as an aha! moment. The people I looked at are able to construct daily schedules that allow them to draw on that process in little increments.”
~ Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, Author Of Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less
Bored Meme
*
The Power Of Unstructured Play:
Free play is what the name suggests. It gives our children freedom to take initiative, imagine and explore possibilities. Our communication is becoming linear day by day, so skills like understanding nonverbal cues and emotions in others is vital for survival, especially when children engage in play with friends.
Free play has many benefits. Personally, its crucial for developing self-regulation. It’s also helpful in learning something new, overcoming our fears, solving problems and making friends.
The downtime that the brain gets during unstructured play helps children with critical thinking, divergent thinking and consequential thinking. That is because, when the brain is under stimulated, it looks for stimulation thereby boosting creativity. That helps them solve problems and understand the sequences of their actions and subsequent results in a better way.
No wonder some of our best ideas come when we’re in the shower or when we go for walk in the woods. So, even for adults, a little existential boredom is good in a lot of ways! Remember, technology will always be there, and distraction is a choice.
*
Quote from Margaret Atwood in her poem: Variation on the word Sleep. She says this about air.
I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed and that necessary.
*
Charge Forward:
Are you checking on yourself with a few mental speed bumps every day? Not yet? Start today and see how you begin to prioritize for the better.
Read more on How Boredom Leads To Brilliance.
* * *
About The Article Author:
Our mission with FutureSTRONG Academy – to grow children who respect themselves, their time and their capabilities in a world where distractions are just a click or a swipe away.
I see myself as an advocate for bringing social, emotional and character development to families, schools and communities. I never want to let this idea out of my sight – Our children are not just GPAs. I’m a Writer and a Certified Master Coach in NLP and CBT. Until 2017, I was also a Big Data Scientist. In December of 2044, I hope to win the Nobel. Namasté.
Write to me or call me. Tell me what support from me looks like.
Rachana Nadella-Somayajula,
Program Director & Essential Life Skills Coach for Kids and Busy Parents
CLARITY - A Pillar of FutureSTRONG Academy
Our children will one day face the real world without our support. Academic development is not the only skill they will need in the real world where people skills like taking the lead, emotional intelligence and a strong moral compass will determine who will shine. So, as parents who want to raise well rounded adults, we want to give them the right tools for their personal development.
Here is CLARITY as described as the 6 C’s of Future STRONG.
Find Below Better Strategies On CLARITY
Digital Citizenship: What It Is, How To Learn It, And The Resources You Need
* Technological Literacy or Digital Citizenship is the wealth of knowledge that we all need in order to be good citizens of the digital age. We all have a playbook for how to live in the real world, and digital citizenship guidelines allow us to understand the...
14 Powerful Quotes From The Book, The Big Disconnect – Sustainable Family For The Digital Age
* Quotable Quotes From The Big Disconnect: Excerpts From the book, The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age By Catherine Steiner-Adair EdD. It's a powerful reminder to understand how to protect childhood and family...
What Are Brain Breaks And Why Does Everyone Need Them?
* Brain breaks or mental speed bumps are focused attention activities that give brains a break from intense mentally challenging lessons children are expected to learn every day. They are good for us adults too because so much is expected out of us each day....
4 Wellness Essentials for Parents and Caregivers
* Child Care Doesn't Have To Be Stressful: Being a parent or caregiver can be an incredibly rewarding role, but there’s no denying that it isn’t an easy one. According to a new poll by the Pew Research Center, about four in ten parents (41%) in the US say...
Here’s How To Preserve A Keen Sense Of Wellbeing On A Daily Basis
* Let’s Define Wellbeing: As humans, we’re driven by this singular goal. What do you want in life? Ask anyone and surely most times it will be a “I just want to be happy!” So, let’s see how our happiness is determined by how we feel about ourselves on a daily...
Sadly, Even The Dalai Lama Sucks. No Pun.
* My Chest Tightens: As I log into twitter, I see Dalai Lama trending. "Cool, the world is awakening, what a pleasant surprise?" Well, it didn't take my joy to turn into dismay in a few minutes. This tweet fell into my feed. I scroll down to the...
Silent Meditation Retreats Or Not, You Can Start Your Mindfulness Here And Now.
* Withdrawal From Chaos: One of my nieces has gone on a 10 day silent Vipassana meditation retreat. She gave herself that "gift" to get away from the noise of the external world. And I am celebrating this, even if it means, I won't get a chance to wish her on...
Every Goal We Set Begins With The Clarity Of Intention. Here’s How To Achieve It.
* The Yogic Guide To Goal Setting: Kalpana and Vikalpa are two words that are derived from the word Kalpa that means imaginative creation. Vikalpa refers to our imagination or fantasy. It is daydreaming, or thinking of things that don't exist. Another word...
Before Decluttering Or Marie Condo-ing, Let’s Find The Roots Of Our Hyper Consumerism {Video}
* https://youtu.be/qk4IE5mbYi0 * Want To Listen To The Article Instead? * * Cited Works: https://www.ft.com/content/432c520c-c4e3-41a7-85c3-7a47fa1cb506...
The Journey Of Our Life Can Be One That’s Filled With A Purpose. Here’s How To Find It.
* Grounds To Thrive: I keep looking around at those who are on their way to understanding their calling and their true potential in life. It is easy to understand that the pursuit of self-actualization is not possible without the basics in life - safety and...
Aiming For Perfection Takes Us Away From The Now. Learn To Enjoy What Is.
* What Is Perfectionism: Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment and shame. Perfectionism, in psychology, is a personality trait characterized by a person's...
How To Help Children Who Are Perfectionists?
* Tell your child they are loved because of who they are not because of who they can become. Encourage them to worry less and try better next time. Explain to them that excellence is a moving goal post and one must a. Inculcate a growth mindsetb....
Many Of Us Die With Regrets, So Let’s Begin To Live With Grace And Purpose {Video}
* https://youtu.be/82P35AlVRIk * Want To Listen To The Article Instead? * Works Cited: https://twitter.com/NobleMindset_/status/1596368274811670528...
Moving Doesn’t Have To Be Stressful. Here Are 5 Tips For Relocating With Your Family.
* Starting All Over? People relocate to different cities and states for various reasons. Relocating as a young single person has its own challenges, but if you are moving with kids, the process is more complicated. Regarding the kids, there are issues like...
You Don’t Have To Stay Broken Forever. Here’s How You Can Rebuild Yourself.
* On a daily basis, there are things that intentionally and unintentionally happen that break us from within. Because of what others do to us or what we do ourselves, we form a self-narrative of who we are in the eyes of ourselves and others. We forget that we...
How Mindfulness And Forgiveness Can Heal Us From Our Pain And Suffering
* * * If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility. ~ H.W.Longfellow, Poet * Each one of us has experienced letting go in one way or another in our lives....
In The End, Only Love Matters. Words Of Wisdom From A Dying Man.
* I reached the pinnacle of #success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is the epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, my wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to. At this moment, lying on my bed...
Is Joy In Your Life Fleeting? Here’s How To Hold It Hostage Is In Your Hands. {Podcast}
* https://youtu.be/8c_O05fbPHU * Want To Listen To The Article Instead? * Chasing Happiness Every Day? Read more about the mindset you need HERE. * * * Our mission with FutureSTRONG Academy – to grow children who respect...
Questions, just ask!
Text or Call: 678.310.5025 | Email: info@futurestrongacademy.com
Bringing a Group? Email us for a special price!