JumpStart Use Your Common Sense Day (11/4/24)

QUOTE:  "The longer you perform a ritual, the more power it garners - from the act, from the faith, from the feeling." (Ranjani Rao)

MESSAGE: This week, I’d like to suggest a Daily Detox Ritual.  It’s evidence-based and will take less than 5 minutes.  This is designed to be done after the kids leave and before you leave school.  Also, preferably this happens before you find your work besties and start venting.

1. Check-in.  WHAT are you feeling right now?  HOW are you feeling right now?  WHERE are you feeling all that right now?  Make sure to not judge.  Remember that emotions are just that - signposts letting us know that something’s up in our bodies.
2. Breathe.  Do a simple breathing activity, such as box breathing.
3. Full-body Movement. This could be a quick yoga flow, walking the hallways using your arms, some calisthenics, etc.
4. Write and Rip.  Sit down and write out your biggest frustration from the day.  Read it aloud to yourself and then rip it up into tiny pieces.
5. Reframe/Gratitude. If someone said something during the day that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, spend a few seconds seeing the situation from their perspective.  Alternatively, think of three things that happened today that made a difference in someone else’s world.  (Bonus points for keeping a journal of these)
6. Play.  Take a minute to play - a crossword, sudoku, Candy Crush, Wordle, etc. (keep it short!)
7. Express Compassion. Now is the time to (re)forgive, express gratitude to someone else, give someone a compliment, etc.  Send someone a nice text or email, leave a note for a student, etc.
8. Remember Your Intention:  Finish by remembering your intention for the day.  If you don’t have one yet, set one for the rest of your day such as the Golden Rule:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

If you spend about 30 seconds on each one with a few seconds for transitions, that’s 5 minutes.  

Just like starting any new habit/exercise, the first time will feel weird.  The rest of the first week will get better.  After that, your daily ritual will only gain power through repetition, just as today’s quote asserts.

THIS WEEK, TRY THIS:  Plan to practice the ritual above for just one day this week after the kids leave and before you pack up to head home.

DAD JOKE:  Why is 'dark' spelled with a K and not a C?  Because you can't C in the dark.