It might sound basic, but pre-planning your week is really helpful for creating boundaries and setting expectations, for yourself and with your family. In uncertain times, it also helps relieve the stressors of not knowing what comes next and feeling overwhelmed about trying to “fit it all in.” Time apart from school and work is important for emotional well-being, connection with others and practicing self-compassion.
Nurturing compassionate connections is vital. Whether it’s checking on your neighbors, supporting local businesses or wearing your mask, showing we care is a powerful way to lift each other up. Here are a few mindful ways to show compassion and appreciation for those in your neighborhood:
Painting colorful, inspirational Kindness Rocks to deliver to neighbors is a creative way to show kindness. Add a personal postcard and watch the kindness spread!
When we witness a kind act, it actually improves our mood, making it more likely we too will be kind. Here are a few inspiring kindness projects and activities to help you spread a little kindness into the world.
Gratitude means appreciating what we have instead of worrying about what we don’t have. It may sound simple, but cultivating gratitude takes intention and practice. Here are a few of our favorites ways you and your family can grow your gratitude practice together.
When we notice the good, we’re actively choosing a positive mindset. This is a simple way to grow gratitude — but it takes practice. Start a Notice the Good Jar to regularly notice and celebrate acts of kindness in your family.
This life-sized version of Slides and Ladders prompts children to reflect on feelings associated with different real-life scenarios. Combining outdoor time with chalk art, this Mindful Recess helps kids understand it’s okay to sit with difficult feelings.
A wonderful way to add kindness and color to our communities while we shelter-in-place is by creating chalk drawings and writing uplifting chalk messages on driveways and sidewalks. In fact, chalk art is so popular right now, it’s making chalk hard to come by. That’s when knowing how to make homemade chalk comes in handy.
Our local businesses do so much for our communities, from providing us food and flashlights to toys and toilet paper. One simple way to show them our appreciation and support is by making uplifting Signs of Positivity to post on their doors and windows.