IN SESSION

For middle school and high school students, going back to school after a summer off can be a stressful time. After a summer focusing on activities other than studies it’s challenging to get the brain muscle switched on and ready for the classroom.

Lake Forest psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo works with students, particularly student athletes, and their parents to help students focus with precision on their academic and athletic pursuits. Lombardo has advised hundreds of students and parents over the years and is the author of the book, Get Out of the Red Zone, which offers sound tips for training one’s mind for success.

“Our mind is a muscle. If you don’t use it, you lose it,” Dr. Lombardo says. “So, if you haven’t been focusing, concentrating, problem-solving, and using that executive functioning much and jump right into school it can be a little challenging.”

There are some things that parents can do over the summer to keep their kids’ minds active and engaged in problem-solving. Getting them involved in planning vacations, such as researching flights and accommodations, is a lot more fun—and family-centric—than trying to keep their heads buried in a physics book.

A switch to the more structured day during the school year is a big stressor for many students. Over the summer their sleeping patterns have been altered and a return to the classroom can feel a bit like boot camp.

“A lot of times stress levels are just lower in the summer than during the school year. Jumping in when they not only have to get up and have more regimen, but they also have to participate in classes and complete homework,” says Lombardo. “I work with a lot of athletes and going from a stress-free environment and back to their sport and practice can be overwhelming.”

Dr. Lombardo talks a lot about what she calls the Red Zone—the subject of her book—and how it limits not just students’ but everyone’s ability to overcome stress or distress. When our mind is allowed to creep into the Red Zone, our ability to manage the pressures of the day-to-day is significantly diminished.

“For parents, being super aware of how their kids are doing emotionally and psychologically is incredibly important,” she says. “But parents also have to ask themselves if they’re in their own Red Zone. Are they feeling overwhelmed? They have the same responsibilities they had during the summer but add to it the stress of getting the kids ready for school and making sure they are prepared to learn.”

And even the younger kids can help themselves (and their parents, too!) by taking on responsibilities that involve problem solving. We often think children are too young for certain tasks but more often than not are surprised how mature they can be.

“A lot of times parents say, ‘They’re too young for that’, but it’s really important for children to have responsibility,” says Dr. Lombardo. “Giving them responsibilities now is really helpful for the transition to the school year.”

To learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo and EleVive, visit elevive.com.