Motivation naturally ebbs and flows throughout our lives - especially during the school year. What if you could harness those high-motivation moments to make the inevitable low-energy times easier? That's exactly what mindful motivation allows us to do.

This final episode in our summer skills series explores four practical strategies to leverage your back-to-school energy surge for long-term success. When we recognize the natural cycle of motivation, we can practice a profound form of self-compassion: letting our present motivated self take concrete actions that will support our future less-motivated self.

First, I share how spending just 30-60 minutes getting a high-level view of your calendar can transform your experience of the next several months. Next, we explore how creating space for children to express their school-related worries now prevents emotional buildup later. The third strategy involves helping kids envision their potential and growth, shifting from past struggles to future possibilities. Finally, we look at how being intentional about school preparations can build intrinsic motivation and autonomy.

These mindfulness techniques aren't about pushing yourself beyond capacity - if you're feeling depleted right now, simply tuck these ideas away for when your motivation naturally rises again. The beauty of mindfulness isn't just being present in the moment; it's also using present awareness to care for your future self.

Ready to bring more mindfulness to your family's back-to-school transition? Listen now for practical tips you can implement right away, whether you're riding a wave of motivation or simply surviving summer.

For our Summer Skills Series Episodes, click on the topic you're interested in below:

Can a Redo help during reactive moments? Yes!

Master the Art of Active Listening

What if discouragement is just a feeling, not an identity? The power of a reframe.

For a calendar that covers the holidays at a glance, click here.

To learn more about mindfulness coaching click here.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

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