Healthy stress reduction, supporting each other, and reducing stigma so people feel more comfortable seeking help are more important than ever.
Looking for ways to boost your happiness today? What helps to reduce stress, especially during this pandemic?
Attainable self-care
Like us, you may have already seen multiple lists of self-care strategies that feel impossible right now. We like things that feel possible! Even just 15 minutes a day of any of the following can make a difference by helping to reduce stress hormones and relax our nervous systems:
Connect with a supportive friend, family member, or someone else who will listen
Exercise or other physical activity
Schedule some fun into the day
Listening or watching something funny
Breathing exercises that prompt a relaxation response in our bodies
Some parents and caregivers are in desperate need of time alone to unwind. If that is just not possible or you would enjoy spending some down time with the family, fun family time can also be a change of pace that helps ease stress for everyone.
Give Your Natural Happiness Chemicals a Boost
Here is a digital flyer that we created with a short list of tips, inspired by past training and a variety of online information:
How Toxic Stress Affects Us and What We Can Do About It
Aimed at parents and caregivers, this video is under 4 minutes and includes the basics of toxic stress and some ideas for dealing with it, focusing on reaching out for support. From Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.
Dealing with parenting stress during COVID-19 – This article has practical tips for dealing with stress as a parent or caregiver during covid with a supportive tone.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Calming Anxiety – Another list of tips for parents and caregivers dealing with stress during covid. This one has options for listening to the whole thing (in a computerized voice) or reading the page in Spanish.
25 Fun Mindfulness Activities for Children and Teens – A user-friendly article from PositivePsychology.com that includes a bunch of tips for activities to do with kids and teens. Mindfulness can reduce stress and these are fun ways to try it together.
CDC Guidance on Coping with Stress During the Pandemic – This page has a lot of basic information on stress, anxiety, and mental health, including tips for coping and national hotlines for a variety of issues.