The summer holidays are a wonderful opportunity to slow down, make memories and spend time together. However, they can also be surprisingly challenging for our brains.
Our brains thrive on routine and repetition because they create a sense of predictability and safety. During term time, our days follow familiar patterns, reducing the number of decisions we need to make and helping us feel more settled. When the holidays arrive, those routines often disappear. Bedtimes change, meal times become less regular, activities vary from day to day, and our brains have to work harder to adapt. For some people, this can lead to feeling more anxious, overwhelmed or emotionally drained without really understanding why.
Children and teenagers can find this change especially difficult. Their developing brains benefit from consistency, so keeping a few familiar routines in place can make a big difference. Simple things such as waking up at a similar time each day, eating meals together, maintaining a bedtime routine, encouraging regular movement outdoors, and setting aside time to talk or relax can help them feel secure. The aim isn’t to create a strict timetable, but to provide enough predictability for their brains to feel safe while still enjoying the freedom and fun that the holidays bring.
Sometimes, it’s the smallest routines that have the biggest impact on our wellbeing.
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