CBK’s Zen Den

A caring note from your CBK School Counselor, Ms. Ordonez

COVID-19 has caused much anxiety and stress for people around the world. The purpose of CBK’s Zen Den is to provide CBK students and their families with some tips and tricks to cope with the social disruption of this crisis.

Anxiety serves a purpose in our life to alert us of disruption and move us towards safety. Feeling anxious is an appropriate reaction to the emerging news and shift in routine. Normalize this anxiety with your child(ren) if you have them, while also managing your own level of anxiety.

Use calming skills because these skills are designed to help you relax. Remember, to take deep breaths, slowly counting to 4 while you inhale, and then count to 4 while exhaling. Try imagery, where you imagine your favorite place, and pay attention to the sounds, colors, and smells. Always take a time-limited break for yourself away from others to regain your composure, when needed.

Utilize mindfulness exercises that allow you to listen to nature, sounds, and/or practice positive self-talk statements.

Engage in physical activity because it is designed to help you balance your energy, either to energize you or to help you release your excess energy in the body: jump on a trampoline, ride a bike, dance/sing to your favorite tunes, kick a soccer ball around, shoot some baskets and dribble a ball, swim if you have your own swimming pool, walk your dog, chase your cat around the house, walk up and down your stairs, use that dusty treadmill/stationary bike, lift weights, and/or practice Yoga and stretching, etc.

Try Processing Coping Skills which will help you work through thoughts and feelings you have about challenging situations: write poetry, use a journal, use a feelings thermometer, make a worry box and put all your worries in there so you don’t keep thinking about them, create a vision board, and/or produce a playlist with happy and upbeat songs that you can share with your loved ones.

Employ Distraction Coping Skills to distract you from thinking about things that make you upset. These skills help you focus on other things that are not so upsetting like baking or cooking, playing a game, drawing/coloring, writing a story or screenplay, listening to happy/joyful music, looking at family/friends pictures., taking pictures of nature (if possible), reading or writing jokes, doing something kind or out of the ordinary for someone else, and/or using a stress ball or fidget.

Research Online Education – An enormous amount of online teaching platforms are offering free resources or access while schools are closed. You can find a comprehensive list here: http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com