My kids are obsessed with screens. It’s concerning. So, my wife and I decided to limit how much time they spend on screens outside of school work (and we know damn well that “school work” often means sneaky Minecraft sessions).
In fending off screen time for my kids, I slowly woke up to how my own screens are never out of reach. Ever “just read the news” on the toilet? Sorry to be blunt, but who hasn’t done it?
Enter archery:
It’s outside.
It requires focus.
It’s educational.
Given that there are no screens, it’s like parenting zen. It gets the kids outside. Hitting a target at even short distance demands calm focus on a single point. Calm focus means breath, muscle, and mental control.
There are mentors everywhere at the local archery club. Some are hunters. Some are just in it for the sport. Some are there to beat their own personal best (PB) in range games.
It’s parenting zen. It’s also laptop warrior zen. More than any other sport I’ve tried. I run, kayak, and hike regularly. Each of those are great. But I can listen to podcasts or mentally disappear into work.
Staring at a target. Breathing slowly. Feeling the tension of the string pulling against fingers. Calculating distance and wind.
Everything else disappears.
It’s amazing.
Maybe archery isn’t for you. But making time to turn on, tune in, drop out every now and then has been helpful at work.
Peter
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