Balancing Work and Kids During the Easter Break: A Mindful Approach to Wellbeing

The two-week Easter break often arrives with a mix of excitement and apprehension. For working parents, the joy of extra time with children can quickly become tangled with the stress of juggling professional responsibilities and home life. Add in the unpredictability of British springtime weather and the endless requests for snacks, and it’s no wonder so many of us find ourselves feeling stretched thin!

But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a little intention, some mindful strategies, and even a nod to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), it’s possible to get through the Easter break not only intact, but feeling more connected—to your work, your family, and yourself.

1. Start With Acceptance (DBT Skill: Radical Acceptance)

One of the core principles of DBT is Radical Acceptance—acknowledging reality as it is, rather than fighting against it. This break is happening. The children are home. Work still needs to get done. You might not be able to do everything perfectly, and that’s okay.

Start by letting go of the pressure to make everything seamless. Accepting that things will be a bit messier, noisier, and more chaotic than usual helps reduce resistance and internal tension. Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up—it means conserving your energy for the things you can influence.

2. Structure is Your Friend

Children thrive on routine, and frankly, so do adults. Map out a loose schedule for each day, including designated work blocks, screen time, outdoor play, snacks, meals, and quiet time. You don’t need to plan every minute, but having a predictable rhythm creates a sense of security for everyone.

If your work is flexible, try shifting some of your focus hours to early mornings or evenings. Tag-team with a partner if possible, or trade hours with another working parent—“I’ll take your kids Tuesday morning if you take mine Thursday afternoon.”

3. Practice Mindfulness Moments

You don’t need a yoga mat or a silent room to practise mindfulness. Take a few minutes in the morning before the household wakes up to ground yourself. Even something as simple as mindfully drinking a cup of tea—feeling the warmth of the mug, tasting the flavour, breathing deeply—can reset your nervous system.

Introduce mindfulness to your kids too. Try a “five senses” scavenger hunt, mindful colouring, or a bedtime body scan. These little moments help everyone slow down and stay anchored.

4. Use DBT’s STOP Skill When Things Get Heated

When tension rises—whether it’s a tantrum, a tech issue, or an overflowing inbox—DBT’s STOP skill can help:

S: Stop what you’re doing.
T: Take a step back (literally or mentally).
O: Observe what’s going on—your thoughts, feelings, environment.
P: Proceed mindfully—decide how you want to respond, rather than reacting automatically.

Teaching this skill to older children can be powerful too, helping them learn emotional regulation right alongside you.

5. Make Room for Joy and Rest

In the middle of all the logistics, don’t forget to have fun. Bake Easter biscuits, do a silly dance, make a blanket fort, or just sit in the garden and notice the signs of spring. It doesn’t have to be elaborate.

And just as importantly, give yourself permission to rest. It might not be a full hour of solitude, but even ten minutes with your phone off, lying down with your eyes closed, or reading something non-work related, can restore your energy.

6. Self-Compassion Over Perfection

There will be moments when it all feels like too much. You’ll feel guilty for putting on another movie, or frustrated that work is piling up. This is when self-compassion is essential. Remind yourself: I am doing the best I can in a very full situation. That’s not a cop-out—it’s the truth.

Speak to yourself as you would to a friend: kindly, gently, and with understanding. When we show compassion to ourselves, we model it for our children too.

Final Thought

The Easter break doesn’t need to be a battleground between your job and your family. With structure, mindful pauses, and a few DBT skills in your toolkit, it can become an opportunity to slow down, connect, and strengthen your resilience. And if by the end you’re counting the days until school returns, that’s totally valid too. You’re human, after all—and you’re not alone.

If you find that you feel overwhelmed or stressed more often than not, then it could be a good idea to get in touch with us and book an assessment. Starting your journey with counselling can help you to get to where you want to be, and help you to be able to deal with what comes your way.