How to Help Your Child or Teen Be
Happy and Productive
Happiness and productivity go hand in hand. If you are noticing that your child or teen is feeling down and unenthusiastic, it may be time to step in and provide a push in the right direction. They may not be participating in their hobbies and interests or actively seeking out opportunities that challenge them. As a parent, you may consider taking action to initiate happy productivity.
Outdoor Activities
Sometimes a breath of fresh air is all they need. Spending time in nature may stimulate your child’s imagination and create a sense of calmness. It has the ability to free their mind, allowing for more creativity and an improvement in attention and focus. Keep in mind even short periods of time (e., 20 min) can help to reduce stress and increase happy productivity. In all aspects - psychological, physical, and cognitive - outdoor activities increase overall well-being.
Screen Time
Society and technology have become very intertwined. Although it is a great resource and can be very useful, it can also be detrimental to productivity. An excessive amount of screen time encourages a lazy mind and slows down children actively trying to stimulate their brains. In an extreme situation, your child or teen may begin to develop a dependence on technology and never explore other interests or hobbies. To conquer this, set limits. Have an open conversation with your child about why they cannot be spending too much time with screens and the restrictions you will be implementing. You may also use screen time as a reward or punishment for happy productivity or bad behaviour. Lastly, set an example for your child. If you are constantly on your devices, they may see this as acceptable behaviour and model this.
Downtime
Taking breaks away from work is essential to avoid burnout. This allows your mind to process everything you have learned in a day and reset for the next. If your child is feeling physically and/or mentally drained, this may negatively affect their happy productivity. Remind your child the importance of taking a step back, and that downtime is a reward for all of their hard work. Overworking yourself only leads to an increase in stress and reduced focus. Take the time to relax.
Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential to your health and energy, meaning it is a key step to achieving optimal productivity. Though it is important to focus time on schoolwork and downtime, enforcing a reasonable bedtime is crucial. The right amount of sleep can increase mood and give your body an extra boost of energy. Whereas poor sleep habits may compromise memory consolidation, decision making and problem-solving, which are all integral to productivity. Sleep is a key step in regeneration and optimizing productivity.
Glass Half Full
We have all heard this expression: glass half full or glass half empty. It refers to the pessimistic or optimistic perspective an individual may have. Someone who expresses appreciation scores higher on energy and overall wellbeing than a person who focuses on the negatives. Those who adopt a more positive attitude and convey gratitude will lead a more productive and successful life. To encourage this, you can be a role model and demonstrate gratitude too. Teach them how to express appreciation for all things in life, big or small, and find happiness in all things they do. This may lead to opportunities for discovering interests and improve happy productivity
Mindfulness and Coping Skills
Sometimes a child can feel overwhelmed and may not yet understand how to deal with those negative emotions, affecting their productivity. Oftentimes, when a child or teen is feeling overloaded by all the things weighing on their shoulders, they can resort to shutting down. This is not a healthy way to cope, and we can teach them how to better deal with the anxiety or stress. Coping techniques, such as mindfulness or deep breathing, can help your child stay calm and cope with challenging situations. Practice these skills in your own home. If you notice yourself or your child showing signs of stress, breathe deeply together and focus on it. Help your child acquire these skills and make them a habit! When they are able to overcome negative emotions, this strengthens mood and energy and, ultimately, productivity.
Exploration and Curiosity
Although children and teens may be an explorer at heart and find their passions independently, others may not be as enthusiastic. Work with your child to organize activities that stimulate their imagination and playfulness. Encourage them to engage in new tasks and see if they show an interest in them! Sometimes all they need is a little bit of support to get them started.
Seeking Help
Know when it is time to seek professional help. There are many reasons why a child or teen may not engage in activities and seek ways to challenge themselves. If you are questioning their mental stability, or are unsure of where they are at emotionally, don’t be afraid to reach out. Having concerns about their socio-emotional development is normal, and there are professionals to provide support to your family.
It can be challenging and stressful to raise a child who is both happy and productive. Don’t forget that everyone has their own struggles with it, and it is normal to have to work on it with your child – it isn’t always perfect. Incorporating balance into their lives is very important. There is just as much value in free play, imagination, and downtime as there is in intellectual stimulation, challenges and learning.