Dani Cohen
Psychiatric Social Worker, LAUSD
Mindfulness
Very simply, mindfulness is the act of stopping to pay attention in the moment. Often times, our brains are in overdrive thinking about many things at once. By stopping to pause, we can help quiet our minds and reset so we can better tackle the challenges of the day without becoming overwhelmed.
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There are MANY ways to practice mindfulness, from simply focusing on everyday tasks like eating, taking mindful walks or doing mindfulness exercises. Here are a few things to support you in becoming more mindful!
Art Therapy
Did you know that fun activities such as coloring, painting, crafting and anything else you do to be creative can actually make you feel more calm? When we are using art, we can practice mindfulness by focusing on one thing and not becoming lost in our thoughts or feelings. Art also helps us express thoughts or feelings that we are having a difficult time saying out loud.
Art is one of my all-time favorite self-care activities! Please enjoy some of these free coloring activities and feel free to share anything creative you are making!!
Gratitude
“It is impossible to feel depressed and grateful at the same moment” – Naomi Williams
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When we focus on gratitude or the things that are going well in our life it can actually make us feel happier. It is helpful to find a time in your day to actively think about things that are going well and either write these things down, say them out loud, or recite them in our minds.
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Families - it can be so helpful to have a gratitude practice in your home. Some families have a "gratitude jar" to write down things that are going well for each family member. They even make it a point to read a few things from the jar every day.
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Here are some extra activities to help you all practice gratitude! Also, feel free to use my padlet -> to share your gratitude with other students!
Mental Health Apps
One of the biggest advantages of living in today's world is that we have access to so many tools and resources right in our phones. There are many wonderful apps that promote mental health in different ways. Take a look at the attached flyer to see what apps might be a good addition to your wellness routine and please feel free to share any that I may have missed!