Small Shifts Creating Big Emotional Impact

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook something fundamental in our children’s emotional well-being: lifestyle. When we think about emotional regulation, we often focus on strategies to help children manage their feelings in the moment. But what if the key to better emotional health starts with something as simple as the way we live our daily lives?

Lack of sleep, too much screen time, a sedentary lifestyle, and processed foods can all have a profound impact on how we feel, think, and respond to the world around us. These factors don’t just affect our physical health; they also dial up our stress response, making it more difficult for our children to regulate their emotions. Our modern lifestyle is often stacked against our biology, which can make it harder to make the right choices for both ourselves and our children.

We understand that change is not always easy, especially when life feels busy and overwhelming. But as with any transformation, it’s important to start small. The “Goldilocks effect” suggests that the best way to make lasting changes is to find the sweet spot—small adjustments that are achievable but still provide a little challenge.

It’s not about making big, dramatic changes overnight. Instead, it's the small, consistent actions we take every day that help guide us toward better emotional regulation and overall well-being. Whether it's prioritising a better sleep routine, spending more time outdoors, or reducing screen time, these seemingly small shifts can have a huge impact on both your and your child's health.

What’s one small change you could make today? Maybe it’s swapping a processed snack for something nutritious or taking a short walk outside after dinner. These small actions might seem insignificant at first, but they add up over time—like compound interest. For example, a 20-minute walk to school each day can accumulate into miles of movement over the course of a year, contributing to better health and emotional wellbeing. It’s these simple, consistent steps that lead to meaningful long-term changes.

The Emotions Lab