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Health Benefits of Tai Chi
Taichi is a soft exercise that allows the body to heal, improve strength and helps in relaxation. Have a look at this video on the health benefits of Taichi.
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Acupuncture For Anxiety
In this video, Dr Corey Emberland at the the Bloomington Wellness center of Minnesota will talk about the health benefits of acupuncture.
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The Top 10 Benefits of Meditation
If you experience anxiety, or stress, or even depression, meditation is a powerful tool in relaxing the mind and body. Check out this video to learn about the 10 most common benefits of meditation. May your day be peaceful!
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Disability Pride Month
Your disability isn’t a weakness! Celebrate Disability Pride Month by making your voice heard. Disability Pride Month brings love and empowerment to those who are disabled.
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Mental Health and Wellness
Supporting our mental health and mental wellness is crucial for living a quality and healthy life. Its important to listen to your mental health and seek help when you’re feeling down.
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Virtual Reality Hot Air Balloon
Click on this Hallmark video and watch through Youtube. (Turn down your volume- it beeps loudly at first.) Listen to the music quietly while you virtually soar through the air. Use the arrows in the top left corner to look up/down or left/right.
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Calm Sounds, Music and More!
Visit this web page for calm sounds, music, meditations, and stories. If you don’t want to log in, just click on the word “skip” in the upper right-hand corner. This is also available as a free app for your phone.
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Music
Visit the “Isle of Calm” to stream 6 hours of free music. You’ll find classical, folk, jazz, ambient, pop, blues, soul, hip-hop, indie-rock and more! Or… make your own playlist of songs that help you feel calm.
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Online Art
Coloring is a great way to calm and distract yourself. Empty your mind of worries as you focus on your picture.
Don’t have any coloring books or markers at home? That’s ok! You can color and do art activities online.
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Play a Game
Play a creative game that distracts your brain. This one is a quick drawing game that works great on a phone or touchscreen tablet. But, you can also use your mouse pad.
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Stay Connected
Stay connected to your support network of friends and family. Send a free ecard, mail a letter, text/call, or video chat. Make someone smile with a thank you note or silly message. It will make you feel good too.
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Daily Motivation & Habit Tracker
Daily routines can help us feel better. Try this gentle coaching tool to help you build routines to become your best self. Free App
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Play an Instrument
Distract yourself by playing the virtual piano. Play faster or slower depending on your mood.
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Journal or Diary
Customize a FREE online journal. There are lots to try: food diary, health diary, dream journal, reflective journal, prayer journal and more!
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Scents & Emotions
Think about how a lemon smells…or cookies just out of the oven or freshly mowed grass. How does it make you feel? Certain scents can help us feel calm or happy. Give it a try with some items that you have at home!
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Fidgets
Fidgets are another great way to calm down, relax, or distract yourself from stress. Turn down your volume and then try this virtual fidget spinner. The more you spin, you can unlock new fidget spinners.
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The Joy of Bubble Wrap
Popping bubble wrap can be a soothing distraction. Don’t have any at home? That’s ok. Try this virtual bubble wrap.
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Pinwheel
Blowing bubbles or blowing on a pinwheel can help us to slow down our breathing and our heart rate so that our bodies feel more calm. Download this FREE app for a virtual pinwheel. Then, blow on your cellphone and watch it spin!
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The Guardians
Play a game to fight depression and improve wellbeing. Every day you can earn new pets and rewards by doing any activity that’s meaningful to you.
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Rocking
Rocking can improve mood, reduce pain, relieve stress, and help with sleep. A rocking chair is the best… but you can also try rocking yourself in a seated position or while lying on your side.
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Try Hot or Cold
Try both of these to see what works best for you. (You might be surprised.) Some people like to use a heat pack or warm bath/shower. Other people might like to splash cool water on their face or hold an ice pack or cold bag of peas to the back of the neck.
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Get a Change of Scenery
When you need to calm down or if you are feeling stuck… try changing your scenery. Go to a different room, change the lighting, add music, open a window etc. If possible, you might even go for a drive or visit a friend/family member.
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Draw Your Emotions
Let your imagination and emotions go free with this online sketchpad. Try this virtual sketchpad I like sketchy, crayon, and spraypaint 🙂
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Panoramic Vision
Use your eyes to turn off your stress response. TRY THIS: Look at a large area of your room or look outside. Relax your eyes to see above, below, and to the sides of you– but keep your head still. This will tell your brain to let go of your body’s hyper-vigilance and arousal to help you feel calm. Learn more about how to use your eyes to help your mental health.
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Indoor Plants & Gardens
Indoor plants have been shown to help our moods. This Pothos plant is inexpensive, and it can survive under or over watering. It can even live in the dark! No Pothos plant? That’s ok! You can also grow plants from vegetable scraps!
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Shadow's Edge Game
Become a graffiti creator, express your thoughts in your personal self-care journal and play this game to find stress relief! Try this free app for resilience, selfcare and anti-stress.
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Practice a New Skill
Our brains are not good at doing two things at the same time. So if you want to change how you are feeling, give your brain something else to think about! Visit this webiste of Extreme Indoor Activities to distract yourself and learn a new skill.
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Go For a Walk
Going for a walk is a great way to feel better. A mindful walk helps you to concentrate on what you see, hear and feel. Going for a walk can also help us reset the alarm/stress system in our bodies. Learn more here
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Coping Ideas
Click on this Coping Calendar for ideas that help us keep calm, stay wise, and be kind.
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Grit X Sketchbook
Use this virtual sketchbook to create a dream board, safe space, gratitude page, life maze and more!
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Online Puzzle
Putting together a puzzle can be a soothing distraction. When you put 2 puzzle pieces together, the sound is oddly satisfying.
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Gratitude
Science tells us that when we spend time thinking about the things we are thankful for, we re-wire our brains to be happier and more positive. Try a gratitude app, a journal or gratitude jar and see what happens in your life…
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Your Future Self
We know ourselves better than anyone else does. But strong feelings can make us forget what works and what doesn’t. Take time to write a letter to yourself so you can read it one day when you are feeling overwhelmed.
Choose from any one of the practices above to calm yourself down this week.
At the end of the week, ask yourself if they were helpful. If they were- keep using them! If they weren’t, make a different selection and try again. Eventually you will find tools that work just right for you.
Looking for More Help?
If you are looking for local resources, try Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative’s Community Bulletin Board
If you are struggling with mental health or if you are stressed out with life… please call 651-266-7878 to talk to someone at Ramsey County Crisis Response. They are open all the time- day and night. And they can visit with you in person if needed.