How to Use This Site
This site is a resource to support with calming strategies to help reduce stress. Below you will find information on the benefits of various strategies. The tabs on the top of the page will help you navigate to pages with videos of music, guided relaxation activities, and calming imagery.
Thank you to our surrounding school districts for sharing resources included on this site!
Benefits of Creating Art
Create and Color
Art allows us to flex our imaginations and express ourselves. Engaging in any sort of visual expression results in the reward pathway int he brain being activated which means that you feel good and it's perceived as a pleasurable experience! Making art can lower stress and anxiety and allow you to focus deeply on the present activity.
Source: NPR
Benefits of Deep Breathing
Deep Breathing
How you breathe can make a difference in how you feel. When you are stressed, nervous, frightened, worried or angry, you may notice that your breathing gets low and fast. Your breath will come from higher up in your chest when you are upset. In calmer times, your breathing will be slower and deeper. Your breath will come more from your stomach and underneath your ribs.
You can learn to slow down your breathing, making each breath longer and deeper. This will calm the rest of your body and your mind. If you practice doing this you can become good at staying calm or return to feeling calm quickly in very stressful situations.
Breathing well is good for our bodies and can help us change negative things happening in our minds to more positive. In other words, we can learn ways to use our bodies to help us feel better in our minds.
Source: Allina Health
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation
Meditation, a type of mind-body medicine, has been practiced for thousands of years. During meditation, you develop intentional focus — minimizing random thoughts about the past or future. Many forms of meditation exist, but most have in common a quiet setting, a comfortable position, focused attention and an open attitude. Meditation may offer many benefits, such as helping with concentration, relaxation, inner peace, stress reduction and fatigue.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Benefits of Music
Music
Music has the power to inspire and entertain, but it also has powerful psychological effects that can improve your health and well-being. Music can improve cognitive performance, improve sleep, reduce stress, help manage pain, improve mood and motivation, and reduce the symptoms of depression. Instead of thinking of music as pure entertainment, consider some of the major mental benefits of incorporating music into your everyday life. You might find that you feel more motivated, happy, and relaxed as a result.
Source: Very Well Mind
Benefits of Movement
Movement
When many of us think of ways to calm our bodies and minds, we think about quiet and restful activities. We may overlook the fact that exercise can also bring us the same benefits. Moving your body not only increases your overall health, but it pumps up your endorphins to improve your mood too! There are a variety of ways we can move our bodies to achieve stress relief and reach a greater state of well-being. Virtually any form of movement can act as a stress reliever. Dancing, repetitive muscle movements, yoga, and sensory play are all ways we can move and regulate. Find physical activity you enjoy and engage in it regularly.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Benefits of Visual Relaxation
Visual Relaxation
Practicing relaxation techniques can have many benefits, including:
Slowing heart rate/breathing rate
Reducing stress
Increasing blood flow to major muscles
Reducing muscle tension
Improving concentration and mood
Improving sleep quality
Lowering fatigue
Reducing anger and frustration
Boosting confidence to handle problems
To get the most benefit, use relaxation techniques along with other positive coping methods, such as thinking positively, finding humor, problem-solving, managing time, exercising, getting enough sleep, and reaching out to supportive family and friends.
Source: Mayo Clinic