HOW TO TEACH KIDS TO RELAX & RELAX TOGETHER AS A FAMILY • Practice slow breathing techniques – Just like us, kids benefit from mindful breathing, and we can teach them to be aware of their breathing by doing breathing exercises with them. • Supervise content consumption in children – It can be easy to lose track of kids’ screen time but knowing how much is healthy for their age and being disciplined about enforc- ing limits is key to helping them relax at home. Keep an eye on the type of content that seems to be connected to unrest, whether that shows up in behavior, sleep patterns, etc. If limiting screen time is a trouble spot, try to find a non-screen-related activity that gets them excited and use that as a way of ending screen time positively. • Importance of creating a routine – Routines are as crucial for kids as they are for us. Having a routine makes their minds feel more secure, and they focus less on day-to-day tasks as new events require energy, which frees up mental space to put more effort into bigger-picture ideas and growth. It might come more easily for some than others, but being disciplined about a routine is a key way to help your child reduce stress. The routine should involve positive things that they love as well as practicalities, that way you’re teaching them that it’s equally important to make time to do things you love as it is the things you need to do. • Playing Outdoors – Playing outdoors is a key way kids learn about the world and their capabilities and limits. It lets them be free of the constraints of the indoors and channel effort they might be putting elsewhere into being silly and free. Free play is a concept that allows our kids to develop and fine-tune motor skills, learn body awareness, and build strength. Finding time to let them play in the backyard will improve their lives quality. Intro- ducing them regularly to new outdoor spaces will help them be less stressed in the home.
Another great way to incorporate the outdoors into your daily spaces is with a desktop-size zen garden. You can buy a premade zen garden or put your own together with plants you most enjoy. With many options available, the common elements of zen gardens are that they are compact and intended to provide a means of calming your thoughts. Like a mantra in medi- tation, the act of tending the tiny garden gives your mind a pleasant means of focusing your immediate thoughts, allowing your brain space to relax in the background. Aside from plants, another natural element that is incredibly calming is running water. Bring this serene feature into your home by adding a tiered tabletop fountain, a lighted waterfall table, or even a water passageway or indoor pond.
GROW, BABY, GROW Having plants in your home can have a surprising- ly immediate and positive impact on your stress levels. Not only are they visually appealing, but the connection with nature is also subconscious- ly relaxing, and they improve your air quality just by being in your home. In addition to the positive benefits of having plants physically present, many plants help you relax by ingesting them or smelling them. Pep- permint, chamomile, lavender, and jasmine are all plants whose properties are beneficial both as teas and diffused into the air. If you’re someone who has a diffuser that you forget to use, plug it into a switch with an automatic timer, so it comes on just before you get home from work.
105 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
104 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
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