Do you need a reset? Have you observed a student who is in the beginning of a spiral? This week lets learn 10 (actually 9 we learned #7 last week) weird psychology hacks to help.
1. Sour Shock.
There are a number of benefits to utilizing this strange technique.
The sour taste disrupts and helps manage anxiety or panic. It is a sensory jolt that can bring one back to the present.
Sour affects the Amygdala. One of the parts of the brain we talk about in mindfulness. Our emotion center. Our Fight or Flight. The sour dampens the response of the amygdala allowing our Prefrontal Cortex to regain control. The prefrontal cortex is another part of the brain we talk about with mindfulness.
Last, sour can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This is our rest and digest system.
If you want to try sour for yourself or a student come see me. I made sure to stock up on sour candy for this blog.
2. Ice Cube Reset
Much like our number one trick, the ice cube can disrupt the anxiety and bring us back to the present. Holding the cold can help lower ones heart rate, reduce breathing, and promote relaxation. This trick involves the Vagus Nerve, which is also connected to our parasympathetic nervous system and promotes rest and digest.
Head to the staff lounge and grab a cup of cubes and give it a try.
3. Power Pose.
It has been a few years since we talked about the Power Pose. Below is a link to our past blog related to power pose and it's benefits.
4. Sing Therapy
Singing out loud slows ones breath. It has even been found to improve memory, posture, and coordination.
It also helps alert the Vagus Nerve helping to tell our bodies to calm down.
5.Sock Swap.
It has been said that this helps give one a mid-day mood boost.
Maybe grab some extra socks to have on hand for yourself or your students.
6. Cold Water Dunk
I would not recommend this one at school. Unless you have that one student... no, let's stick to the rest of the list.
But if you need a quick cold dunk, go for it! They say cold shock is good for the body and brain.
7. 3rd Person Talk
Take a look back at last week's blog on third person talk. Give it a try.
I have been working with students on using this. The younger ones just repeat me and go with it, the others students think I'm strange. But Pamela will keep trying.
8. 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding
Five things you can see
Four things you can touch
Three things you can hear
Two things you can smell
One thing you can see
This could also be used in combination with #1. The taste element could be something sour.
Have a sensory box near by in your calm down space. Make sure you have four different textures in the box. Grab some smelly stickers or markers. Find things and build a grounding kit.
Grounding brings us back to the hear and now. The present moment. It's mindfulness.
9. Chew Gum
This one could be more for you than students. Or you could use this during a 2x10. Give the student gum to chew while you walk and talk then remind them to spit it in the garbage before returning to class.
10. Weighted Hug
Some people do not like touch. Others love it, crave it, and need it. Studies show that we need daily hugs. In fact it has been stated that we need 4 hugs for survival, 8 hugs for maintenance, and 12 hugs for growth.
Now add in pressure. Pressure calms the nervous system.
If you have a student that needs a little weight on them during the day come see me. I have two weighted dogs and a weighted cat. I had a student last year who would place them on his shoulders and take a walk. I've had students borrow them to sit on their laps for test taking. Others simply spend time with them in my office.
We now all have 8-10 techniques we can utilize to support students who are in a moment of struggle. We now have 10 ways to help ourselves in a moment of struggle.
I encourage you to try a new one each day. If you tried number seven last week, great! This week pick a different number daily and give it a go. I know I'll be using the sour candy in my office (you can too).
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