Every summer, many people put some of their commitments on hold to free up time. Maybe they are going on vacation, enrolling their kids in day camps, or just feeling like they want to slow down a bit. Overall, the general idea is the same – take a break in the summer to start back up in the fall.
Unfortunately, the reality is getting started again after an extended break is not always that straightforward. Not unless you are aware of, and plan for, the possible barriers that may arise when it’s time to start again.
Below are some tips to help you (or your kids) get restarted and overcome any challenges that may arise during the process.
Expect and plan for resistance
When we take an extended break from anything, there is a high probability that we will encounter resistance to restarting. This is especially true of kids. This is for 3 main reasons:
We got out of the habit, and maybe even replaced it with more negative ones. A positive habit is always more challenging to start, restart, and/or keep than a negative one.
Long breaks can make us lose our connection to the positive benefits and feelings we had when we were consistent. This is especially true for kids.
Sometimes anxiety, stress, nervousness, or even just annoyance that we have lost progress or just won't be able to perform like we did before we took the break will keep us from that step to restart.
Have a firm and committed restart date
In all instances, having that firm and committed start date is crucial. For example – instead of saying you will restart again in the fall, pick an exact calendar day, schedule it, and stick to it no matter what. If you are worried about being rusty, that is normal. Oftentimes you just need to show up and get started to reconnect with your training and regain your momentum.
Take action to help overcome stress and anxiety
Some people (both kids and adults) experience significant stress/anxiety around the prospect of restarting, especially around performance expectations. In these instances, a little student/instructor communication can go a long way. Scheduling a simple chat, or even a short one-on-one coaching session with an instructor, can be what eases the nervousness and even creates excitement. Many times people grossly overestimate how much they lost or how long it will take to get back to where they were. Taking action will always be more positive than ruminating on the “what ifs”
Resistance is not a sign that you should quit
Resistance may be one of the most important reasons to get restarted. It is often a sign that, deep down, it’s something that we want, but we talk ourselves out of. The more experiences we can give ourselves (and our children) on how to overcome resistance, regain positive habits and restart healthy routines, the more we strengthen our self-discipline and the ability to overcome future challenges.
In the words of the author Steven Pressfield: “Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet. To yield to resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us, and makes us less than we were born to be”