Tweens and Teens nowadays tend to have very busy schedules. For adolescents who are serious hobbyists or pre-professionals in the creative arts, the time commitment level is just as intense as their peers who are heavily involved in sports. As holiday breaks are approaching, it’s important to remind our tween and teens to not only enjoy the break from academic responsibilities, but to also take a mindful break from their extracurriculars as well.
Because the Creative Arts which include (but are not limited to) activities such as music, theater, dance and art are often seen as “fun”, it can be easy to forget that just like an athlete who is training, breaks can be an important part of long term skill building and self-care. Here are a few reasons why it’s good for creatively driven tweens and teens to take breaks.
Tweens and Teens Need a Break to Recharge
Taking a break from creative projects or activities can help them recharge and regroup after a long period of mental strain or physical output. Encourage your adolescent to take the time to rest and relax, as this will help them gain perspective on their current goals, projects, activities or performances. Activities that are outside their typical daily routine can both help de-stress and stimulate the mind in new ways that may inspire new breakthroughs when they return to their creative art. Advocate for creating time and space for restorative activities – including increased sleep time if this is a concern. If they are reluctant to take breaks from their art, remind them that by clearing their minds for a bit they are more likely to return to their preferred activity with a fresh outlook that may lead to increased skill development.
Not taking Breaks Can Lead to Burnout
Tweens and teens who are passionate about their creative art may be especially prone to this issue. Because of their enthusiasm and tendency to overwork themselves in pursuit of excellence. Without proper rest and self-care, they can quickly become overwhelmed and exhausted. As a parent, you may need to the one to look for signs of burnout in your adolescent, such as fatigue, lack of motivation, or irritability. Encouraging teens to take breaks and set boundaries for themselves can help them stay productive without burning out. Talking to tweens and teens about the long term dangers of overworking themselves can develop healthy awareness and habits early on in life.
Breaks Encourage Emotional and Physical Well Being
Studies have shown that taking a break from work reduces reports of depression and anxiety. The “job” of tweens and teens is their academics and their extracurriculars. Time away from school is built into the schedule, but time away from their creative art may not be. Though it may be tempting to encourage your tween or teen to use time away from school to get extra skill building time in on or their art, it will likely be more globally beneficial to avoid this. Especially during a shorter break of just a week or two. Encourage your adolescent to take a vacation from their art.
Because physical well being can be highly tied to mental well being, taking a break can lower the toll stress has on your tween or teens body. Remind your adolescent that our body doesn’t differentiate between good stress and bad stress – so even if they don’t experience constant work on their art as “stressful” there are still good reasons to take a week off here and there.
Breaks Allow Your Tween or Teen to Do a Check-In
Because your tween or teen is committed to their creative art, they may lose sight of keeping in a well balanced part of their lives. Many of us have had the experience of going all in on something that we enjoyed. As much as we may have enjoyed the experience or project or challenge, when it’s completed, it can be a bit jarring to realize the toll it was taking on both our time and our physical well being.
If your adolescent has been going non-stop, they may have normalized lack of free time, lack of sleep, or lack of mindful exercise. When there is time for a break, ask your tween or teen to check in with themselves on how they are feeling. Have a discussion on any benefits they have noticed or realize they haven’t made time for other things that are important to them recently. If this is the case, talk to them about finding better balance. Acknowledge that it can be hard, adults often struggle with it to – but emphasize the need to check in and working to find the right balance for themselves. Let them know that in the long term, it will be essential in order for them to continue to have a good relationship with their creative art of choice.
Tips for Using Breaks for Self-Care
While elements of self-care may be obvious to you as an adult, they may not be quite as obvious to your adolescent. Here are a few suggestions you can offer – and model by engaging in them yourself or offering to help your tween or teen make them happen for themselves.
- Take a walk or go outside: fresh air and sunlight helps many people a sense of perspective and provide an opportunity to clear their head.
- Exercise: trying a new physical activity can be an effective way to reduce stress, as well as energize and motivate them within their art.
- Meditate or practice yoga: focusing on breath and body work is a great way to reduce stress and create a sense of inner peace. Meditation does not have to mean a hour sitting in quiet. It can be a short practice of ten minutes – or a physical one like listening to music while working on an adult coloring book
- Recharge with friends: spend time with friends who don’t necessarily have anything to do with your creative art pursuits can help you refresh and recharge differently. Remind you tween or teen to reach out to friends who have different commitments and let them know they have more availability to hang out coming up
- Read or watch something completely unrelated: changing the types of media you consume can be a great way to get ideas from different sources. Encourage your tween or teen to watch a movie with the family that they may not normally be into.
6. Take a break from technology: Encourage your teen to try to take a true tech break for one hour each day. It may feel very uncomfortable for them at first, but often teens quickly find that one hour can pass very quickly and is a great break from the constant low-level overstimulation tech can inadvertently cause.
