10 Simple Slump Busters
/Anyone else in the post-holiday, pre-spring, slump season of the year? Late February and early March always seems to be especially challenging of us around here. In Minnesota, it’s officially springter—you know that season that isn’t quite sure what it is. One day, it’s snowy and cold. The next, it’s sunny and warm, full of the promise of spring, and also full of slushy snow and mud. Lots, and lots, and lots of mud. At this point in the year, we are all ready for warmth, a new season, and the promise that indeed summer will show up and we can take a break from the books for a few months. Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in the slump and wonder if it will actually end. So, I’ve decided to brainstorm up a list of some ways to bust out of this slump. To be completely frank, some of these ideas are completely theoretical ideas (aka they haven’t been tested), but I do hope to give them a try soon! So, here’s my brainstormed list—complete with tried and tested ideas and also some hopefully-this-will-actually-be-fun-and-not-just-weird ideas:
Learn a new skill or take a fun online class. Sometimes, we just need something new and fresh to give us a mental refresh. The kids have enjoyed a number of classes they’ve taken on Outschool (Ps. If you sign up with the link for the first time, you’ll get $20 credit to use!). I’ve also taken classes using Skillshare, but Youtube can be a helpful resource too. Art Hub for Kids is one of our favorite channels on Youtube for art and drawing :)
Have a game day. Chuck the books for the day and just play. We’ve recently loved Monopoly Jr, Dragonwood, Sleeping Queens, and Silly Street games (this one has us all laughing!). Or, grab the game pack in the shop for a bit of learning, Bible, and play!
Clean out one of those areas. You know the ones. The junk drawer. The closet that looks like a game of Jenga. The drawers that have a million socks without a match. A cluttered kitchen corner. Sometimes just tackling a small area helps motivate you to freshen up other areas or feel that boost of productivity.
Go outside. Yes. I know that at this time of the year half of the country is still under a blanket of snow (or at least of pile of mushy melty snow and mud), but grab some boots and head out. Often, a bit of sunshine or fresh air is all everyone needs to feel a little more energized.
Have a mini-unit week and go all out. I know. I know. How do you do something creative when you feel like the most unmotivated and uncreative person on the planet? Well, just start with something small and see if it snowballs. Some ideas for a mini-unit: a country study (if you include food, you’ll sure to have some interest!), an artist or art study, a STEM project, a historical period (anyone want to pretend they live in the wild west or ancient Egypt?), a baking show/contest, movie making, etc. If you want a bit of a guide, Bible Spy School is so simple + fun. My boys still talk about it + love listening to the Bible Spy School playlist :)
Have a Dance Party. If you really want to surprise your kids, hairspray and tease up that hair, put on some blue eyeshadow and red lipstick, wear anything you currently find in the Target teen section, and then turn up that 80’s and 90”s music. Your kids may think you are crazy, but they’ll also be fully entertained and probably join in too! Choose a time era of music, pump up the music, and have fun!
Create an art gallery. Take a day to just create and make art. Then display it in fun ways around the house. If you have family or friends nearby, ask them to come by and enjoy the art gallery in your home.
Have a movie and popcorn afternoon. For an extra dose of fun, have them build a fort and watch the movie in the fort or under the fort.
Change the setting. As much as we enjoy being home, sometimes it’s fun to take schoolwork to a new setting. If it’s warm, go to the park or favorite outdoor spot. If it’s not, grab those books and take them to a favorite coffee spot or restaurant.
Go to God and His Word. This is last on the list, but it’s not the least. Sometimes we have the tendency to try to muster ourselves out of the slump on our own. But, often, what we need most is true refreshment—the kind that we find in God’s Word. So, I’d encourage you to take some time to go to His Word, rest in it, and ask God for help for strength and ideas to bring joy and renewal to your days.
During the next few weeks, I’m looking forward to trying out and also redoing some of these ideas on this list to help us beat the slump a bit. I’d love to hear from you—what are some ways you help you and your kiddos get out a rut or slump?
