The NJSBA's Member Assistance Program is a free confidential service that offers 24/7 phone, text or mobile access to a mental health professional with at least seven years of experience, who will provide individual counseling and connect members with a wellness library of more than 25,000 self-help resources. The program is available to all NJSBA members and those in their households. Get help today by calling 800-531-0200. The following article is from a newsletter by Charles Nechtem Associates, the program’s provider.
Because of the stress of a typical work week, finding time for some fun and relaxation is usually difficult. Furthermore, it may seem like making time to enjoy your life takes a lot of effort. However, finding time for yourself and your family is well worth it: The hobbies and activities we take part in together or alone often bring us great happiness and help to enrich our lives.
Why Leisure Is Important
· Physical fun, like taking an aerobics class or going on a walk with a friend, helps soothe tension and clear the mind.
· Even an hour of leisure time a day is great for the body, mind, and spirit. It helps release stress and leads to a more
balanced life.
· By taking time to do things you like to do, you can better have healthier and more positive relationships with those
around you.
How to Have Fun
If you’ve filled your life with so much work that you’ve forgotten how to play, take some cues from kids. They easily go from one fun activity to the next, typically with smiles and laughter. Watch your child at the playground and see how he or she becomes immersed in the present activity, whether it’s playing in the sandbox, scaling a climbing wall, or going down a slide. Try to have a similar state of immersion and happiness when you take time for yourself. Here are some tips to make the most of your fun times:
· Choose activities that are just for you; choose others that involve the family.
· Schedule a time for leisure into your daily calendar.
· When having family time, pick sports, hobbies, or locations that everyone enjoys
· Take time for unexpected pleasures. Occasionally, don’t schedule in an activity for your leisure time during the day.
When leisure time comes, do what you feel.
· Quiet times during the morning can help you get ready for the day, and quiet times at night can help you unwind.
Choose meditation or other relaxing, quiet activities to de-stress.
· Try to be fully present when you’re having fun. Let go of cares, worries, and stress during fun activities; know that
you can address what you need to after you’re done with your fun time.
Having Fun Solo and with Your Family
Here are some ideas for activities to do on your own:
· Try a new hobby or revive a former one.
· Join a gym or start going to fitness classes.
· Play a new sport.
· Join a book group or enroll in a class.
· Seek an artistic outlet -- go to a museum and sketch or take pictures in a park.
· Call an old friend.
· Take a walk in the neighborhood or watch the sunset.
Some activities to do as a family can include:
· Go to a sports game.
· Go see a movie, museum or go to an amusement center.
· Take a day trip to a special spot.
· Take family walks together.
· Have a game night.
· Participate in fundraisers together or volunteer together.
· Take dance, tennis, or other lessons together.
· Plan a family vacation and get the whole family involved in the planning process.
This Month's Webinar - Family Ties
In this day and age when everyone is plugged in - what affect is that taking on the members of the family especially the children. Connecting as a family on all levels is key to how children behave in social settings and later in life. Communication skills, dealing with life issues and how they conduct themselves is a learned behavior from parents and other family members.
Log-in any time this month to watch the webinar!