|
depositphotos
Prevention Action Alliance
Know! To Put Self-Care and Connection into Practice in the New Year
We’ve happily kicked 2020 to the curb and welcomed in 2021 with open
arms. Now it is time to figure out what we want to make of this fresh,
new year. If we learned anything in 2020, it is the importance of
self-care and connection for a healthy mind and body. We may still be
wearing masks, social distancing, and dealing with other COVID-related
regulations, however, the time to get motivated, set new goals, and
create joy is now. Students of all ages can and should be encouraged to
do the same.
When it comes to New Year resolutions, experts say that 60% of people
abandon them within the first six months, while another 25% do so after
just one week. With that in mind, instead of getting stuck on repeat,
let’s focus on meaningful, achievable goals that promote well-being for
ourselves and others.
Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychologist from California’s Dominican
University who led a study on goal setting says that a key to making it
happen is to WRITE IT DOWN and refer to it often. She found that people
who put their goals on paper were 42% more likely to be successful.
So, let’s gather our students, with pens and papers in hand and get
started. Two essential points for a healthy mind and body, as we all
know, is to exercise regularly and to make good dietary choices. But
there are a variety of other self-care items that can also be included
on their 2021 checklists.
Here are some additional ideas for self-care in the new year:
Talk to yourself with kindness. We tend to be our own worst critic.
Let’s make a point to give ourselves the same break we give (or should
give) others.
Try guided meditation. It is shown to reduce stress and anxiety, while
improving memory and attention span, along with a variety of other
health benefits. There are endless apps and websites to get you started.
Remove negativity from your life or distance yourself from people or
things that bring you down. It may simply involve turning off the news,
or not-so-simply involve a thorough examination of the company you’ve
been keeping.
Let go of a grudge and forgive. Just as it was freeing to let go of
2020, it is equally freeing to let go of a grudge. Forgiveness of
others is a huge gift to yourself, mentally and physically.
Make your bed as soon as you get up in the morning. This way you begin each day with an accomplishment already under your belt.
Once they’ve written down some ideas on taking care of themselves, it’s
time to come up with some ways to reach out and help others. This is a
win for the giver and the receiver. The benefit to the receiver is
obvious. However, research shows that helping others provides the giver
with a sense of purpose and increased self-confidence. Experiencing
that sense of connectedness with others can also improve mood, decrease
stress, and even boost the immune system.
Here are some ways to make it a win-win:
Conduct a closet raid. Go through your clothes and donate what you no longer need or want.
Be kind on social media. Steer clear of gossiping, negativity, and
unnecessary drama. Instead share words of affirmation; spread
positivity. There is always someone out there feeling down. Be the
person who lifts them up.
Send handwritten thank you notes to the important people in your life.
In the age of technology, handwritten letters have become a lost art.
However, it is a genuine, thoughtful gesture that your loved ones will
appreciate and cherish.
Start a new hobby that can also be shared with others. If you take up
baking, you can drop off your homemade goodies on a neighbor’s
doorstep; if you take up knitting or sewing, learn to make newborn hats
or blankets and donate them to a local hospital; if you’re interested
in journalism or family ancestry, you can interview grandparents or
other family members over the phone; you’ll be documenting your family
history and they’re sure to love that you are interested in the stories
they have to tell.
Do random acts of kindness. Shovel someone’s driveway, give your mom
flowers for no reason, babysit for a struggling parent for free, offer
to walk your neighbor’s dog for them, create “get well” cards to send
to patients in the hospital. Use your creativity—the possibilities are
endless.
Ask students to come up with a checklist of around 10 meaningful,
achievable goals for self-care and connection, then encourage them to
post it in a highly visible location where it can be looked at and
referred to often. Be sure to offer your support and guidance in
helping them make it happen. They should check off those boxes as they
complete each item. That incredible feeling of accomplishment will help
them make the most out of this new year in 2021.
Happy New Year!
We at Prevention Action Alliance wish you and yours
good health and tremendous joy throughout 2021.
|
