Focus is a key skill for young people who look forward to a life of meaningful work.  The ability to stick with something, to persevere, is a piece of this.  However, focus is more than simply a character issue.  Brain development and function is a critical piece of developing the ability to focus.  

Common sense tells us that a child's environment plays a key role in the development of attention span.  I know that, you know that, even the reknowned 19th century educator, Charlotte Mason, predicated her education writings on that.  Homeschooling families are instinctively drawn to Mason's teachings on the benefits of fresh air and nature walks.  We know that nature has the power to sooth.

I was curious, then, to see how that intuitive knowledge played out in the research community.  As I poked through some literature, I stumbled on an article in the Journal of Attention Disorders which dealt specifically with the affect of nature on the attention spans of children.  Researchers at the University of Illinois gave children time outdoors – in various settings - before taking a series of tests.  While controlling for other variables, including medication, time of day, and noise levels, the research team looked for a connection between the amount of 'green' children were exposed to and their ability to focus on the subsequent tests.

So, does 'green' really matter?  Can a walk in the park really increase a child's focus? 

It appears that way.  "What this particular study tells us is that the physical environment matters," said Frances E. Kuo, co-author of the study. "We don't know what it is about the park, exactly — the greenness or lack of buildings — that seems to improve attention, but the study tells us that even though everything else was the same — who the child was with, the levels of noise, the length of time, the time of day, whether the child was on medication — if we kept everything else the same, we just changed the environment, we still saw a measurable difference in children's symptoms. And that's completely new. No one has done a study looking at a child in different environments, in a controlled comparison where everything else is the same."

Study subjects were all children with ADHD, placing them on the focused-challenged end of the attention span spectrum.  However, "we're all on a continuum of attention so this study has implications for all of us," said Andrea Faber Taylor. "ADHD is just at the far end of attention functioning, but there are plenty of us who fall somewhere close to that end of the continuum, and we all experience times when we're mentally fatigued — times when we're less able to focus and do tasks and get easily distracted. The evidence suggests that natural settings can benefit everyone, even children (and adults) who have not been diagnosed with ADHD."

Timeless wisdom and current research align and give us important insight to keep in mind for us and for our children.  Homeschoolers have the unique opportunity to take this research and apply it to day-to-day life.  We have greater leverage over the time our children spend outdoors than parents in a school setting. 

Later this week, I'll be posting some practical tips on how to increase your child's attention span using nature.  In the meantime, send them out to play.  Better yet, go outside and play with them!

Planning - Your capacity for activity has changed.  Now is the time to take inventory of what you can do, when you can do it, and how it can be done.  Figure out what your big rocks are everyday.  Big rocks are the activities that need to get done each day.  Examples may be homeschool activities, making meals, or paying the bills.  Once you have established your big rocks, you can slot them throughout the day.  Decide when you have enough energy for each of your big rocks.  You may decide to homeschool first thing in the morning, taking breaks in between each subject.  You may choose to make all of your meals for the day while you get lunch going because you know that your energy will be low at dinner-time.  Paying the bills can be handled on Sunday afternoon when your spouse is home.

Support - Research shows that those with chronic illness who find a good balance between accepting the reality of their illness and remaining as engaged in life as possible are happiest.  Talk with your spouse and decide which items you need the most help with and then… let him help!  For example, you know you can handle daily dishes, dusting and laundry.  Doing the bathrooms, though, puts you over the edge.  See if you can offload that chore to a child or spouse.  A spouse can take over one piece of homeschooling, as well.  Maybe Dad would love to do science or history with the kids.  The result – great bonding time for them and quiet time for you at the end of the day.

Expectations – Anyone who has lived with chronic illness for any length of time knows that some interests and activities may need to be postponed to a different season of life.  Expecting your body to behave as it did before you became ill can only result in frustration.  Lots of it.  Instead, realize that although you can't do what you used to do, you CAN do other things.  For example, reading to your children is a great activity that results in bonding and learning for them and rest for you.  Keep your expectations realistic and positive!

These are baby steps on the road to homeschooling with chronic illness.  Starting small gives you a sense of control over your life.  Taking on a goal that is important to you can be terrific medicine! 

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By looking at the juxtaposition that the current culture puts business leaders in (collaborate vs. compete, be global vs. be local), the authors have isolated five primary "management mind-sets."  These mindset perspectives are:

• Managing self: the reflective mind-set
• Managing organizations: the analytic mind-set
• Managing context: the worldly mind-set
• Managing relationships: the collaborative mind-set

• Managing change: the action mind-set

I can hear you wondering, "What does this have to do with me – a homeschooling mom, keeping a home, and hanging out with my kids all day?"  You'd be surprised at the parallels that can be made between a homeschooling mom and a corporate manager.  I have taken the liberty of using the HBR article's very insightful framework to examine how we can be more effective at homeschooling, running our household, knowing ourselves, and building better relationships with our husbands, kids and friends. 

My own framework is probably less professional, but I hope it will be something you can relate to and find useful in your own way.  Without further ado, I present you with the "Five Minds of a Mom":

1The Contemplating Mind

As moms, we are often caught up in the "doing" that comprises so much of our days.  If you are anything like me, a description of your average week would be dominated by action words.  Teaching, driving, cooking, coaching, dressing, soothing, cleaning, talking, correcting, training… these are all the things we do.  Those things are the bread and butter of our lives as mothers.  Those things are valid and important. 

We can't, however, underestimate the importance of reflecting.  In reflection, we find meaning in the doing.  This is more natural for some people than others.  We can all benefit from taking the time to process what is happening in our lives.

How?  For me, this means taking a few moments to write in a journal or otherwise sit down to revel in my life.  I think of funny things the kids have said, savor the memory of time outside with my husband on a beautiful day, or reflect on a relaxing conversation I had with close friends.  I sit still with God to just be present and relaxed.  Life flies by at lightening speed, and the world is full of challenges and hardships.  If I didn't take a few moments here and there to look back on and contemplate the gifts, I think my heart would grow a little harder and my smile would be a little less bright.

2The Evaluating Mind

So, what exactly is the "evaluating mind?"  For a mom, the evaluating mind is the piece of you that reviews what happened today, this week, this month, this year.  You are looking for patterns in your behavior or in the behavior of your family.  You are deciding if you feel good about your activities and whether those activities really fit with your goals. 

My evaluating mind has recently been trying to find congruence between my business-related tasks and my desire to be fully present for my family.  I am not only a Professor Mom (homeschooling) and the Professor Mom (blogging), but I also need time to be a wife, to give service to the church and community, and to have a little humor and downtime in my life.  I have been reflecting on how all of these roles intersect.  

I analyzed where my time is spent and discovered that I was taking life in big chunks of time.  That worked better for me BC (before children:-)  In this season of my life, it's important for me to be more flexible and ready to live in the moment.  I have to do a little of this and a little of that, rather than sitting down for 4 hours and focusing on one project.  It really isn't the way I enjoy working, but it creates a better environment for all of us when I make flexibility a priority.  So, I have learned to adjust.

3The Exploring Mind

Have you noticed that the world holds a contradictory image of motherhood?  Typically, mommyland is viewed as stable and non-adventurous, sometimes bordering on the mundane.  I am quite certain that we have all felt that at one time or another.  I have to tell you, though, being a mom has also been one of my greatest life adventures.  In between the mundane, trivial and downright boring moments, lie moments of joy, fear, risk and inner battle. 

When each of my sons goes through a new phase in his growth or behavior, I am basically embarking on new territory.  Have I already learned from former years or older children?  Of course, but every child has his or her own unique being and way.  It is my job to anticipate and work with that unique nature.  I feel a sobering fear when I see something undesirable in my child's heart - maybe selfishness or defiance - because I am never quite sure that I will be able to help them past it.  I persevere until I see improvement.  I take risks everytime I let them try out new things.  And, I feel the most inexplicable joy when I see our faith and family values alive in our children.

No matter how many days are filled with changing diapers, washing dishes and healing boo-boos, your life as a mother will continue to have a component of adventure.  Allow your mind to see your world through this lens.  Use it to explore the world around you, regardless of whether you are hanging out in your backyard or traveling to a new country.

4The Relating Mind

Moms have the distinct honor of relating to multitudes of different groups.  Homeschool groups, church groups, work groups, parent groups, sports groups, scouts, book clubs, etc. each bring with them a distinct subculture.  How do we handle the people who get on our last nerve?  How do we reach out to kindred spirits?

Our relational styles have an element of genetic predisposition to them.  However, as we get older, we find that we have this awesome ability to broaden ourselves and the way we interact with other.  By developing the areas toward which we don't naturally tend, we can connect with the mom down the street who may seem quite different.  

If you are a very boisterous person, you can work on your listening skills and attempt to tone it down a bit for the quieter person you'd like to develop a friendship with.  Likewise, by creating a conversation script, someone who is quite timid and shy can venture forth into new groups confident that they have the ability to start a conversation.  

5The Engaging Mind

The engaging mind encompasses you as a whole person and how you interact with others.  You take each day and incorporate its experiences into your essence.  The people you have met, the things you have done, the sights you have seen, are each absorbed.  Your authentic self works with those experiences, judging them good or bad, helpful or irrelevant.  You keep what works and discard what doesn't.  Wisdom is the filter for all of it.   

I find this happens almost subconsciously.  The payoff comes when I realize that through the engaging process my mind has come to a hard decision or I have broken a bad habit that I've been struggling with.  God guides us through this mind.  I find it encouraging when I hear Him 'speak' like this.

After examining each of the "Five Minds of a Mom," you probably find yourself drawn more readily to some of these perspectives than others.  We each have distinct personalities that draw on different strengths. 

Let's look at the term introvert.  Introverted people are not the stereotypical shy, social outcast types.  Introversion really means that you draw your energy from time alone.  Introverts are typically more adept at using the Contemplating Mind.  Their nature draws them to reflect on their experiences and draw meaning from them. 

On the flip side, extraverts draw their energy by interacting with others.  Extraverts will often feel quite comfortable with their Exploring Mind.  They look outwardly and engage in experiences outside of themselves with enthusiasm. 

We all can benefit from utilizing our less-natural minds more often.  As with everything worth doing in life, practice makes perfect.  Over the next few weeks, check in with yourself to see which of the minds you tend toward.  Then, try to work on one of your under-developed minds.  By rounding yourself out in this manner, you may stumble upon ways to bring more light to all of the different facets of your life.

Someone once said that 'failure to plan is planning to fail.'  Homeschooling is no different. Even though we can march to the beat of our own drummer (and let's face it, that's why many of us enjoy it so much:-), we don't want to get so caught up in that march that we forget that there are certain life-tools that have proven their worth over time.  Basic lesson planning - in essence, giving yourself a roadmap – is one such tool. 

Still not convinced?  Here is a quick list of lesson planning benefits that I have put together for you this fine morning:

You will waste less time finding things.  To be organized or not to be organized, that is the question. Regardless of where you stand on the Julie Morgenstern scale, your kids need you to step up and make sure they have the tools they need to learn.  Preparation means that you have those beakers for the chemistry experiment on hand when you need them, so you don't spend half the day driving around town to find them.

You won't be sidetracked with rabbit trails (unless you want to be!)  We are homeschoolers, right?  Do we not love rabbit trails?  You know, the times when your son or daughter becomes so fascinated in a subject that it consumes the household?  Those rabbit trails are some of the most beautiful moments of homeschooling life.  But, it is important to remember that rabbit trails can lead nowhere if they aren't well-managed.  They can also overwhelm you and draw you away from more foundational skills.  Those foundations (you know… basic grammar, math, and spelling) may not be quite as exciting as a rabbit trail to the land of India, but they are still crucial to your homeschool.

You don't get lost (because you know where you are going.)  How do we get anywhere unless we know where we are going?  Homeschooling is at least 12 years of numerous subjects, not to mention life skills and character training.  Having an outline of your journey helps you stay on track.  It also helps you catch any molehills before they become mountains.  Lesson planning keeps you going in the right direction.  It also gives you the flexibility to take on the afore-mentioned rabbit trails with confidence, knowing everything else is still accounted for.

Your expectations are clear.  Good lesson plans give you the opportunity to lay out expectations clearly.  I am not talking about lengthy rubrics (unless you like them.)  Instead, your lesson plans tell you and your kids what is expected of them.  You experience peace in not having to develop and explain an assignment in between blow-drying your hair and your morning coffee (besides, I highly recommend the coffee first;-)  It is also more fair to your children.  They have expectations that are consistent and well-thought out.  No flip-flopping for their mom!  Nope, she knows what she expects, and she communicates that clearly.  Kids need those boundaries so they can concentrate on the work at hand.

Self-Confidence.  I can't tell you how many moms I talk to who are unbelievably unsure of themselves… especially when it comes to homeschooling.  They feel unorganized, not worthy for the task, tired, or worn down from 'negotiating' with their kids.  Planning your lessons is one small step toward building up that skin you need when you homeschool.  Everyone isn't going to support you, we all know that.  But, when you are down on yourself, you can sabotage your entire homeschool experience.  Who then suffers?  That's right, the kids!  So, this week, try to work in a little planning.  See if you don't feel just a bit stronger. 

Planning can't solve all of your problems, create perfect kids, or eliminate world hunger.  What it can do is take away some of the noise of life and allow you to focus on the very reasons you are doing this homeschool thing in the first place… your kids. 

Thought of the day:  When you prepare for life, you glide through a bit easier and a bit saner.

For some, morning means waking up to the dawn from a refreshing night's sleep.  Ready for the day, you bound out of bed, looking forward to whatever may come.  For others, morning goes hand-in-hand with feelings of dread and/or chaos.  Whichever side of the fence you are on, my friend, I think we can all agree that mornings are important for setting the tone of the rest of the day.

I was doing my Bible study this morning, and I was looking in my concordance for symbolism relating to the morning.  Three references guided me to lay out specific goals for the morning: 

Gratitude.  Psalms 65:8 tells us "They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy."  Goal:  I want to wake in gratitude for the day, my family, and the work God has given me.

Beginning the journey.  Israel began their journeys in the morning. (Genesis 22:3) Goal:  I want to rise prepared to embark on the day's journey, seeing it for the adventure it is. 

Forming of a covenant.  Genesis 26:31 speaks of oaths being exchanged after rising in the morning.  Goal:  I desire to be in covenant with God in order to seek Him first throughout the day. 

Morning is the time that comes after the period of rest.  It is a time to get ready and fulfill tasks that are relevant to productivity and life out in the wide world.  We get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush our teeth, and prepare for whatever tasks are ahead of us: schooling, grocery shopping, doctor visits, vacation planning, visiting with friends… you get the point.  How we begin our day often affects how the rest of the day plays out.  Let's take an inventory of how we begin our day:

Do you wake up:

With the sun, or some form of light source?  Or do you keep the room black?

Ready to get out of bed?  Or do you hit the snooze alarm 15 times?

Prepared?  Or do you spend half the night worrying about what you didn't get done?

Organized?  Or is your entire family in chaos because there are no clean dishes and no one knows where to find clothes for the day?

Even if you lean more toward night-owl than early bird, you can make changes that will make your morning more productive, your day more pleasant, and your relationships less strained.  Becoming a morning person is requires dealing with one part genetics and two parts habit.

First, it is important to acknowledge that some people really are night-owls.  Their genetics, primarily the pieces that are tied to circadian rhythms, are wired to make them more awake in the evening.  My husband is one of these people.  He 'turns on' at around 10pm.  It is like someone flips a switch.  He stays up and works into the wee hours and usually rises around 8am.  He runs his own business, so this schedule works for him.  Night owls aren't lazy, they are simply wired differently.

Unfortunately, from the perspective of a homeschooling mom, that schedule isn't always feasible.  Being up with young children, preparing for your school day, setting an example of cheerfulness in the morning, each of these means that living the night owl lifestyle isn't an option.  So, what can you do to go from night owl to morning person?

Well, you can focus on creating good habits.

Much of waking up well involves what you do the night before.  TV watching, stress before bed, your bedroom environment, how late you stay up, what you eat, and whether you exercise regularly are all variables that affect your sleep.

Here is a list of tips you can use to turn yourself into a morning person who exhibits gratitude for the day, begins the journey of the day well, and uses the morning to keep your covenants with God and family:

TV/Screen time.  Contrary to popular opinion, adults are not immune to the negative effects of the screen.  We may be ultra-diligent with our children, but when it comes to our own intake, we let it slide.  The particular light and flicker that is emitted from the television and the computer have been shown to keep our brains awake and affect sound sleep negatively.  Try to avoid both right before you hit the sack.  I use the time right before bed to read something heartening.  This plants beautiful thoughts to be used by my brain through the night.  One of my favorite books for pre-bed reading is Henri Nowen's "The Only Necessary Thing," which is a lovely treatise on prayer.  Fill your brain with peaceful thoughts before you close your eyes for the night.

Stress.  Stress is an energy sucker and a health stealer.  Keeping your stress levels manageable is a goal most of us strive for.  In order to minimize the impact of stress on your sleep quality, try to empty your mind.  I like to keep a small notebook or digital recorder on my nightstand.  When I start focusing in on my outstanding task list or my brain kicks out an article idea that I don't want to forget, I get it recorded immediately.  I also lay out whatever I need for the next day.  My mind can then rest, knowing that it hasn't lost anything critical.

Sleeping Environment.  When you get into bed and look around your room, do you sigh in comfort and peace or in frustration?  An ideal sleeping environment is dark, quiet, uncluttered, and comfortably heated or cooled.  Make sure that you have your thermostat set so that you are not waking up chilled or sweating through the night.  Keep the room neat and tidy, creating a haven rather than a cluttered mess.

Bedtime.  This is a habit that can be difficult to change, and one I still struggle with.  After being 'on' with the boys all day, I enjoy the peace and solitude of the house after they are in bed.  I can write without being interrupted, get housework done, have meaningful conversations with my husband, or catch up on my reading.  I often get caught up in these things and end up staying up way too late.  I have to discipline myself to enjoy that time, but to know when to stop as well.

Nutrition.  Are you drinking coffee in the late afternoon just to get through?  Have you caved in to the sugar cravings one too many times?  Have you skimped on vegetables in favor of more pasta or bread?  If so, you may be setting yourself up for more than just weight gain.  Coffee is an energy shark; it steals more than it gives.  Sugar not only messes with your energy levels, but it also is inflammatory and can give you heartburn at night.  Vegetables are crucial for developing a strong immune system and for helping with good digestion.  You keep an eye on your children's eating habits; keep yours in check as well, and you can reap the benefits in more restful sleep at night and more energy and drive for your day.

Exercise.  Who has time for it, right?  Finding a way though, will help you sleep better at night.  A short walk every day makes a huge impact on how you sleep at night.

By taking an inventory of where you stand with each of these elements, you will have greater clarity on how your sleep may be affected by your habits.  When your sleep is poor, it is harder to get up in the morning and harder to get through your day in a state of peace and productivity.  When you use what many experts call good 'sleep hygiene,' you wake up more refreshed and ready to start the day in a cheerful frame of mind.  Setting the stage for a pleasant wake-up also sets the stage for a fulfilling day with your family.

For one thing, her books are as beautiful to look at as they are to read.  This one has cobalt blue ink and the quotes on the margins are a lovely fuschia.  Just looking at words in these colors is pleasing to the eye.

The content is full of heart-warming life examples, which always make me reflect on how I can incorporate more of the message into my everyday life.  The following is my brief takeaway for the day.  In light of the time of year, may it encourage all of you to step back and allow yourself to be mindful of what you are doing so that you can actually enjoy it!

To choose happiness is to choose mindfulness and, in your mindfulness, to choose joy.  Deep, isn't it?

Mindfulness is being present in what you are doing in each moment.  Rather than dwelling on "what's next?" you focus on your current task before you move on to something else.  Choosing joy goes back to the whole concept of PMA (you will hear me use that phrase regularly, it's one of my favorite acronyms – Postive Mental Attitude.)  Acknowledging your position, whether you are on a beach in sunny Florida or scrubbing a bathroom floor, and giving it its due, allows your heart to recognize the value of where you are.  Then, you can approach your activity with gratitude rather than angst or apathy.

Mind you, I really despise scrubbing the bathroom floor:-)  But, when I take a moment and remember why I am doing it (to keep our home clean and germ-free), that I can do it (my body is capable), and who is blessed by it (not just me, but my family as well), I am encouraged enough to at least finish the job well.

These are three things I am going to do today to be more mindful:

1 – Finish this post with the energy it deserves without thinking about the next item on my to do list.  It is such a pleasure to interact with all of you, I am going to take the time to enjoy it!

2 – Go scrub my kitchen.  Yep, sounds fun, doesn't it?  However, my kitchen really needs it as our entire family has had the flu over the course of the last two weeks.  Today, I am going to be thankful that I feel well enough to do it.

3 – Sit with my still-sick child and read a few good books to him and his brother on the couch.  We are going to turn the tree on and cuddle.  I am going to put all of the projects I am behind on out of mind and put my energy into helping my son to feel better.

Why don't you pick your three things right now, before you click off? 

That's it, I wish you a day of mindful happiness.

PS – I got Alexandra's book at Barnes and Noble online for $5.98.  This one is about 6 years old and it was in the bargain book section.  Beautiful and affordable… music to a mom's ears!