Relieving Stress | 5 days, 5 ways
Stress Reliever #1: Exercise!
Get outside and run or walk and then come in and use this challenge to add a little variety to your routine:
Tuesday: Spell your name (first and last)
Wednesday: Spell Wednesday
Thursday: Spell what you ate for breakfast
Friday: Spell your favorite book character's name
Monday: Spell the city and state you live in
A - 10 Sit Ups
B - 15 Second Plank
C - 10 Push Ups
D - Run in Place 30 seconds
E - 10 Mountain Climbers
F - 10 Squats
G - 10 Lunges
H - 10 Squat Jumps
I - 15 Second Side Plank (each side)
J - 20 Jumping Jacks
K - 10 Windmills
L - 60 Run in Place
M - 10 Frog Jumps
N - Crab Walk (length of room)
O - 30 Second Wall Sit
P - 20 Crunches
Q - 30 Jumping Jacks
R - 20 Bunny Hops
S - 10 Tricep Dips
T - 20 Air Punches
U - 10 Bicycle Crunches
V - 20 Quick Feet
W - 10 Squat, Kick (alternate)
X - 10 High Knees
Y - 30 Second Tree Pose
Z - 20 Second Run in Place
What's your favorite 'Stuck at Home' Workout?
Stress Reliever #2: Meditate
Meditation can play a big role in calming anxiety. Take 5 minutes of your day to practice meditation. If you need help, there are hundreds of guided meditations on YouTube. We are providing a link to one guided kid-centric guided meditation that you can do as a family and we encourage you to search for more and include in your school-at-home day:
The Rainbow Waterfall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j_Na4Baoaw.
Do you have any guided meditations that you'd like to recommend to others?
Stress Reliever #3: Practice Kindness
A few days ago, we encouraged you to practice gratitude to refocus your mind on the good, not the bad. Practicing kindness can have the same effect. By focusing on others, you are more likely to experience satisfaction and a sense of calm. There are a few easy ways to practice kindness, even when social distancing is in play:
1. Write a letter to a nursing home resident. Don't worry if you don't know one. Either call a local nursing home facility and ask the best way to send a letter; or call your local church. Churches have members that are no longer able to leave their homes and love to receive encouraging mail.
2. Write a note or draw a picture to thank your mail carrier, garbage man, or UPS man for the work they do.
3. Send a note of thanks to the local firemen or police department.
Share how you are practicing kindness this week!
Stress Reliever #4: Journal
Write about COVID-19!
This is impacting us all in very different ways. Capturing your emotions, thoughts, fears and the reality of it, in your own words or drawings, will help you express your emotions and document this unprecedented time in our world. Encourage your kiddos to do the same!
How many of you journal daily?
Stress Reliever #5: Pray
God is faithful and will provide. Pray for our government leaders. Pray for healthcare workers. Pray for the sick. Pray for the vulnerable. God is always listening and will provide.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
What is your go-to verse or passage during trying times?
Drop your email below to receive all of our positive blog content directly to your inbox!