Making the Most of our Holidays…
Wow, SO good to have some time off!
So refreshing to change the scene, drop the routines, meet new people, play some games, feast and experience new things.
For me holidays are like clearing the cache.
And ‘breaks’ are a recurrent theme in my coaching work with GCSE-aged teens:
how often to take breaks (very different for each individual)
what represents a good break (eg movement)
and what doesn’t (eg screens)
and the value of breaks (for those that are tempted to just ‘do nothing but work’)
And I love it when it’s my turn to implement what I so regularly advise, or ‘devise’ rather, on the back of each teen's unique sense, insight and input.
This Christmas, for the first time in a long time I’ve taken two full weeks off.
1:1 coaching is super intense when I’m at max capacity, it’s emotionally and psychologically demanding.
Just like studying for GCSEs which is also an emotional roller-coaster for many, teens and parents alike.
Some of my Y11 teens I know have been working this holidays for their Mocks in January and some have taken the whole holidays off to recover, to reset and to re-charge.
Y10 and Y11 students need to learn the skills to give themselves a good change of scene, to do something other than just study (especially once we get closer to exams), to be disciplined about being offline more and away from their books and relentless intellectual pursuits and demands and to bring in some fresh perspective, influence and experience to help fuel all their good work and exam preparation.
It takes structure and intention to really get the most out of our breaks and our holidays and I love helping young adults to learn how to make the most of their own time.
This is how I’ve ‘walked my walk’ this Christmas and optimised these two weeks off work:
Screen-free Christmas - all of us, 3 days of no Nintendos, Ipads or computers. Phones only for photos and holiday logistics. And screen-light holidays in general.
Time with family - hot tubs, stockings in bed together, dog walk to the ford, cinema trip, lots of games
Saying yes to kids’ suggested family activities - football, freezing cold midnight dips, movie nights, endless racing demon and Cards Against Humanity
Serving others as best I can - connecting and playing with their kids, washing up and helping with food prep, photographing, making fires, playing games
Finding the fun - Avatar, bonfire outside, winter tennis
Unwinding morning and evening routines - holiday looseness to offset term time self-discipline
Maintaining some good habits - getting outside every day, writing, dog walking
Prioritising in-person connection rather than online / phone communication
Expanding diet (literally !) Feasting and making merry, taking a break from stricture
Softening hard edges in relationship, activity, identity and lifestyle choices - openness to the fullness and potential in each moment
Giving space and time to thoughts and conversations - allowing for greater clarity
Resting when needed - daytime naps and quiet moments away from the crowd
Greatest gratitude for this time off, I feel energised, inspired and raring to go for 2026!
Looking forward to meeting all the new teens and parents I will work with over this coming year and continuing my work with the incredible group I already have.
To find out more about working with me, just click this link: https://youngfireacademy.com/
Happy New Year, everyone!
If you’re not already a member of our awesome Young Fire Academy Parent Community Group on Facebook, come join us! Get support from me and other like-minded parents who are on this journey too.
Click here to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/youngfireparents/
Henry Dingle
Henry Dingle is the founder of Young Fire Academy and an expert teen and parent coach, as well as a specialist tutor. He helps exasperated parents and their demotivated teens reconnect and thrive by fostering authentic relationships, trust, and accountability. With over 20 years of experience working with teens, Henry’s approach ignites motivation, leading to greater self-confidence and real-life satisfaction.
He empowers students to take charge of their learning through mindset coaching, effective essay-writing techniques and Maths helping them build confidence and enjoy their academic journey. As a parent coach, Henry supports families in restoring trust, improving communication, and creating a more harmonious home environment.
