Ah, yes. It’s back-to-school season. That wonderful time of year when parents realize how little time or control they have in their lives! Early morning bus pick-ups, late-night lunch packing, home-work, permission slip signing, racing across town to practices and games…ok, breath. Just thinking about it can raise the stress levels!
Not to worry though! While we can’t fly you away to a weekend spa retreat in the Rockies, we can offer you a handful of nature-inspired hacks to help you breathe, reset and find peace in the back to school madness.
1. “Open Air” Coffee
Instead of gulping down your coffee while stuffing lunches with cheese sticks and PB&J’s, try to schedule just 5 extra minutes to take your coffee outside to your porch or patio. Grab an actual mug, not one of those ridiculous oversized Stanleys. Ya gotta smell that coffee, no lid and under the open sky! Need a mug? Don’t worry, we gotcha covered with our Live Quirky Mugs that are ready to hold your favorite brew.
2. The 10-Minute Morning Serenity Walk
After school drop-off or bus pickup take a quick lap around the block or even a local park. Morning rituals have a way of centering us before the currents of the day try to sweep us away. It’s not about getting a hardcore workout, it’s about feeling that blood pump just enough to be thankful for some fresh air and get a little perspective on the day before jumping into the madness. Need a motivator? Buy yourself a super funky pair of walking shoes that are exclusively used for your serenity walk. Have fun finding a pair here!
3. Trade Homework Headaches for a Cloud Shape Break
When the homework gets unbearable for the kids and you can’t figure out this “new math”, declare a 5-minute cloud shape break. Everyone heads outside (yep even adults), stares at the clouds, and picks their favorite shape. Disconnect your brain from that algebra and let your mind wander a minute!
4. Carpool Calm
Instead of doom-scrolling while waiting in the pickup line, put down the phone, crack the windows and just listen. Birds, wind, even traffic counts. Give yourself a mini mindfulness session, phone free. No music. Just the sounds of the world happening around you. Pretend like it’s 2002 when it was totally normal to wait in a line with nothing to do. Go ahead, be a little bored. It’s good for you!
5. Barefoot Backyard Therapy
Kick off your shoes and wiggle your toes in the grass for five minutes. Science says this silly thing called grounding is actually not so silly as it can greatly reduce stress in your body. It also makes you look delightfully eccentric if you wear this fun shirt while walking in circles in the back yard.
6. Bedtime Stargazing
Once a week, push bedtime back 10 minutes for a family stargazing ritual. Point out constellations, or just invent your own! If you want to really nerd out pick up the following stargazing guide for kids. Look it’s Orion!
7. Fruity Fridays
Try bringing a little variety into your kitchen each Friday by letting the kids pick a new exotic fruit to try together. Set those apples to the side for a day and try a few of these items: dragon fruit, starfruit, passionfruit, persimmon, kiwano, mango and of course papaya. Pro tip: try juicing these at home for a mind-blowing hydration experience! You’ll never want Tropicana again.
Remember, back-to-school life will always be a little crazy, but it doesn’t have to steal your peace. We hope a few of these small nature-inspired hacks can bring you to a calmer, happier, and healthier place!
Stay quirky, my friends.
0 comments