Find your footing, stay hopeful and feel great
Hey Kiddos!
2020 has thrown the whole world some big challenges. When life feels uncertain, and seems to change daily, YOU can still find your footing, stay hopeful and feel great.
Choose to practice one of these simple habits, or put them all into play, and create an awesome day.
Make your bed: Accomplishing this first task every day will give you a sense of pride. One task completed typically turns into many. And... if you happen to have a miserable day, you'll still come home to a bed YOU made.
Keep your body clean and groomed: Wash your hair, and clip your nails. When you look fly, you feel fly!
Sit up and stand tall: Believe it or not, you can boost confidence and lower stress by simply practicing good posture. Lift that chin up, set those shoulders back, and get ready for a great day.
Breathe: So many of us hold our breath or breathe improperly, especially when we feel anxious, angry or sad. Lay on the floor. Place one hand on your belly, and the other on your chest. Take a deep breath through your nose, filling your belly with air first. Keep your chest still. Exhale slow and controlled while you're belly drops. Breathing this way will help you calm down & chill out.
Drink Water. Boost your mood, energy, focus and improve your digestion by drinking 8 glasses of 8oz of water every day.
Eat healthy foods. Generally speaking, if it came from the ground or had a mother, it holds more body building nutrients than products wrapped in packages and stored on a shelf. Fruits, veggies, nuts seeds, and animal protein rock!
Get active every day. Dribble, kick or throw a ball. Ride a bike, hike up a hill or do a cartwheel. Push, pull and carry heavy things with friends. Moving our body helps us feel good, and reminds us that we can do hard things. Play, have fun, and celebrate your health!
Learn something new. Flex your big brain, fight boredom, adapt better to change, and impress friends & family with all of the interesting things you've discovered!
Write down 5 things you’re grateful for: Take time to think about the positive things in your life. Describe the highlight of your day. Describe your favorite person and all of their good qualities. Write about what cheers you up when you feel down. What struggles have you experienced that you have overcome? What, or who, helped you overcome these struggles?
Go to bed on time: Remember that comfortable bed you made earlier? Your body and brain NEED good sleep to stay healthy and grow. Set an alarm for bedtime so you can reduce stress, improve your energy and mood, think clearly, and absolutely crush school. The pediatric sleep community has recommended munchkins three to five years old need 11 to 13 hours, kiddos five to 10 years old need 10 to 11 hours, and big kids 10 to 17 years need eight-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half hours of sleep each night.
*Bonus: Do something nice for someone else: Write a thank you note, call and compliment a friend, pick up trash, rake your neighbors leaves, shovel an extra snowy driveway, or wish someone a great day. It feels really good to make someone's else's day extra special!
*Bonus Bonus: Smile: The next time you feel like you need a pick-me-up, try flashing a toothy grin. Smiles are totally contagious and just might give you the lift you're looking for. If you're already in a good mood, flash those pearly whites to a passer by and share the good vibes.
Hang in there kiddos. There are good people working hard every day to ensure the world is a safe and healthy environment for YOU to succeed in! We need your brilliant minds, strong bodies, and serving hearts. Take the very best care of yourself, because YOU are our hope and our future.