Eat the frog first. I read these words today and thought, what! Gross! What does that even mean? I had not heard this saying until today, so I dug in and did some research. It turns out Mark Twain once said, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first." In other words, do the thing that you don't want to do first, then everything else in the day will be easier. You won't have this thing, this frog, hanging around, jumping all over the place getting in the way. In a world where everything has been flipped upside down, and our regular routines have been thrown out the window, we are looking at new, overwhelming routines we must contend with. There are frogs. Frogs that we don't want to deal with. Frogs that we say we'll worry about tomorrow. So, tomorrow, make that list of what needs to be done and put that frog first. Get it out of the way. And you'll feel loads better after you do. Mindfulness is something we've been learning about at Pine View Elementary School. Mindfulness is bringing attention to our thoughts and feelings. When you are calm, your thinking brain is on. When you are sad or angry, your emotional brain takes over. When this happens, you are less likely to be able to think, problem solve, and learn. While there are many different ways to be mindful, we have been focusing on breathing mindfully at Pine View Elementary. Deep breathing can help you relax and let your thinking brain take control again. Here are some ways that you can be mindful at home. 1. Practice Deep Mindful Breathing 2. Using mental health apps like Calm and Stop, Breathe, & Think. Click here for a description of apps on Common Sense Media. 3. Progressive muscle relaxation can help release built up tension in the body and help kids pay attention to their body. 4. Learn more about mindfulness with Mind Yeti. During these unprecedented times and the uncharted territory that schools and families are now facing, I now face a new challenge in figuring out how to reinvent how I can serve students and families. School counselors are very hands on and meet with students daily. They provide lessons, support, a listening ear, and a hug for students who need one. I'd like to still be available for students, but in a virtual world. I am using this website as a way to connect, reach out, and share with our Pine View Families. I plan on uploading resources, videos, and Safer Smarter Kids lessons in the coming weeks so that students can continue to receive their Social Emotional Learning (SEL). This website is a work in progress, so please check back if you don't find what you're looking for. |
AuthorTanya Keene is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Pine View Elementary School in Land O Lakes, FL. Archives
September 2020
Categories |