That feeling is creeping in again!

[bright sparks]

One thing I find helps is a structured day. I find I have the biggest issue with this feeling if the day is just free play. I chunk the day up into specific time slots and decide what we are doing at those times. It doesn't mean that it's a big activity like an art and craft requiring lots of prep, but maybe an adult led group activity, like only having the blocks out and playing together as a group to build a big tower. This is a good activity for a 20 minute block. Or maybe a sensory pack goes in the sensory table and the kids all play with that. This could last a good 30 minutes. It makes the day go much quicker too. Additionally, I schedule my break time so that I'm not spending to much time surfing versus getting things done. I have to manage my schedule pretty tightly now that I have a study timetable to stick to, but I'll be also giving myself 1 day a week to veg out, catch up on tv etc. This way I get through the day quickly and positively rather than just dreading the day by 9am. Small blocks of time, 20-30 minutes for indoor activities, longer outdoor garden playtime period but then maybe setting up activity stations and having them switch every 15-20 minutes, and then a period of free play. My group has free play from drop off at 7:30 until 9 when my kids have gone off to school and then again from 3:45-5pm. This way they develop the independent skills and don't need me to be able to play, but then the rest of the day wizzes by because its never that long till we have a change up to keep things moving along nicely.