Americans lead busy lives. A recent survey shows something pretty disheartening: adults spend up to three hours a day on social media, but an average of 37 minutes together as a family for an entire weekend.
Some of that is because of work, some of it is because kids are in sports or other extracurricular activities and some of it is that we just haven’t trained ourselves to slow down.
Slowing Down is Good for Your Nervous System
Have you ever scarfed down a meal because you were in a hurry? Not very satisfying, and you probably got a pretty good gut-ache because of it.
Our bodies are made to perform best when they are in balance. Your nervous system wants to fire on all cylinders, but when things are “off” in your body, it can only do so much to protect you. Stress is a major contribution to this, so by slowing down whenever you can, you give your nervous system a chance to regulate.
Good nutrition, sleep, and regular chiropractic adjustments are what we order!
You know how good you feel when you take care of your body, so model that for your kids, too.
Ways to Slow Down This Summer
- Institute quiet time: TV’s off, electronics off. Everyone needs to be in the same area, reading, playing a game, or even just snoozing on the couch. Aim for one hour per day.
- Practice gratefulness: talk about one thing you are grateful for every day at dinnertime or bedtime
- Wind down to sleep: tea, baths, special pillows, and no electronics 30 minutes before bed
- Start a craft you all are interested in: paint rocks, decorate windows, make bracelets
- Say no to more than one thing a day: if you have a soccer game in the morning, decline that invite to a long outing in the afternoon
- Practice mindfulness: use a meditation app and have kids join in
- Cook together: simple, healthy recipes and cooking can really bring your family together
- Have a dance party: Let your kids pick the music and show them your mom and dad dance moves!
Growing Minds and Bodies Need Free Time
You know how you feel when you are overscheduled. Kids feel this too, but they aren’t always great at self-regulating. Be the person that helps them identify when they are overwhelmed with too much activity can teach them how to balance their life/work situations when they get older.
If you notice your child is tired, moody, or has a change in sleep patterns, they may just need a break. Give their minds and bodies a chance to rest, and you may see dramatic results quickly.
Chiropractic Adjustments and Kids
Chiropractic adjustments for kids are safe, gentle, and effective. Additional symptoms and conditions patients have reported improvement on include ADD/ADHD, colic, torticollis, ear infections, bed-wetting, digestive problems, allergies, asthma, seizures, and more. We can examine them and determine the best way to keep their spine and their mind healthy!
