engage
J
Buzz
maskmatters.org
SPRING 2018
20
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{
DID YOU KNOW?
}
Being silly with your child is one of the most important aspects in bonding with your child.
1
TAKE WALKS.
Mindful people
know that simply going for a
walk can be an excellent way
to calm the mind, gain
new perspective, and facilitate
greater awareness. In fact,
according to some studies,
walking through green
spaces may actually put the
brain into a meditative state.
2
CREATE.
Mindfulness and
creativity go hand in hand. Many
great artists, thinkers and writers
have said that meditation helps
them access their most creative state
of mind. If you want to become more
mindful, try engaging in your favorite
creative practice, whether it’s baking,
doodling or singing in the shower.
3
UNITASK, NOT MULTITASK.
Multitasking is the enemy of
focus—many of us spend our days
in a state of divided attention, and
it keeps us from truly living in the present.
TAKE 5
FIVE THINGS
MINDFUL PEOPLE
DO EVERY DAY
Mindfulness, the practice
of cultivating a focused
awareness on the
present moment, should
become a daily habit and
a lifelong process. Here
are five things mindful
people do every day to
stay calm, centered and
focused on the present
moment.
SUGAR-FREE
SNACKING
W
hat’s the first thing your teen
does when they get home
from school? Like most kids,
they raid the refrigerator. But snacking
on the wrong foods can add unwanted
calories and make your child even
hungrier when mealtime rolls around.
The key is to choose healthy
snacks that will fill them up and
provide nourishment without adding
too many calories. In addition,
limiting the amount of sugar your
child eats is key to overall health.
Research by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention shows that sugar
behaves much like a drug, and over-
consumption has addictive effects on the
brain. Sugar contains dopamine, which
can cause addiction, impairs memory and
learning skills, and may
contribute to depression
and anxiety. It’s also a
risk factor for age-related
cognitive decline.
When choosing
snacks, be aware of added
sugars such as artificial sweeteners and
corn syrup. Naturally-occurring sugars
are less worrisome as they are found in
healthy choices like milk and fruit.
As for drinks, limit the amount
of juice your child drinks and skip
the soda as much as possible. Experts
say one can of soda contains the
equivalent of three days worth of
sugar recommended for a child.
If you’ve been under the impression
that gummy or sticky fruit snacks are
The mindful way is to focus on one task
completely for a given period of time,
then take a break before continuing or
moving on to another task.
4
KNOWWHEN NOT TO
CHECK THEIR PHONES.
Mindful people have a healthy
relationship with their mobile
devices.They set (and keep) specific
parameters for usage.They might make
a point to never start or end their day
checking email, or unplug on Saturdays or
during vacation. Most importantly, they
put away their phones when spending
time with their loved ones.
5
MEDITATE.
You can be mindful
without meditating, but research
shows meditation is the most sure-
fire way to become more mindful.
Regular meditation can help reduce stress,
improve cognitive function, and boost
well-being.
Source: HuffingtonPost.com
healthy alternatives, you’re not alone.
Many parents are surprised to learn
they are really closer to candy than
fruit, especially when it comes to sugar.
Crunchy snacks like crackers and chips
also contain sugar, primarily in the
form of carbohydrates that break down
into sugar.
Also avoid expensive “power bars.”
If you look at the label, you’ll see most
protein bars, energy bars and sports
bars are just candy in disguise.
