"Crowded"

🌟Weekly Inspiration🌟

Recently, one of our kids in the practice, shared that they felt ”crowded” with their afterschool activities. I thought this was an interesting way to describe feelings of being over-scheduled. Typically, we think of being “crowded” as having too much physical closeness, a lack of personal space. This can happen with our schedules and routines as well. It can make one feel overhwhelmed (too much happening on the calendar, overly stimulated, not enough down time); trapped (not being able to say no or get out of activity), restless/irritable (feel edgy, a lack of control, or angry); or disconnected (the more we are spread thin, the less we are connected to a particular activity). Some temperaments thrive on more activity, some want less.

At this time of year, kids are burnt out and might feel particularly “crowded.” As we look towards summer and fall schedules, what conversations could you have with your children about the “right” amount of activity for them? As their parent, how can you protect your perfectionists from themselves? How can you nudge your more fearful children? How can we all address the elephant in the room—which is the concern of too much screen time—if we don’t have kids in multiple afterschool activities?

Ask Yourself

Do I feel “crowded” in my own life? Why? What could help me feel more space?
Did I feel “crowded” growing up? Why or why not?
Do I feel a pressure to keep my kids very busy?
Do I feel peer pressure from my community to keep my kids over-scheduled? Do I often succumb to peer pressure?
Is my life too Child-Centered?
What are my fears around too much screen time? How can I be thoughtful about this and address it as a family?
What might it feel like to be more in balance as a family-not rushing all the time?
Are we spending too much money on extracurriculars that are not serving my kids?
How does this impact my nervous system?
How does it impact my children’s nervous systems?

Be well!