Month: December 2023

New Year, New Adventure, New Beginnings

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The start of a new year can be a stressful and overwhelming time of the year, especially for youth and teens. You might be asking yourself how you can make the New Year meaningful, beyond stereotypical resolutions. Keep reading to learn how you can make 2024 your year!

 

Make a Vision Board

One of the most stressful parts of a new year is envisioning what you want to accomplish throughout the year. It can seem like an overwhelming task to set out to accomplish your year-long goals. An effective way to achieve your goals for 2024 is to envision them via a Vision Board.

What is a Vision Board? A Vision Board is collage filled with images, quotes, and other pieces of media that serve as motivation catalysts. Vision Board can be a physical scrapbook-style board or an online collage. For 2024, get together with friends and family to create Vision Boards that are representative of your goals and dreams. For a more indepth Vision Board tutorial, visit: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/a29959841/how-to-make-a-vision-board/ 

 

Reflect on 2023

You can learn a lot about yourself and your goals via the past, so going into 2024 by properly closing 2023 can serve as a significant tool in making the New Year meaningful. Start off 2024 by reflecting on your life experiences in 2023!

There are a lot of ways to reflect on your past, including journaling. Journaling can be helpful in reflecting on important life events, relationships and friendships, and personal life. Further, journaling and reflection can improve mindfulness and a better understanding of your thought process. 

To learn more about how you can journal and reflect in 2024, visit: https://journey.cloud/reflective-journal 

 

Write Out SMART Goals

Goals can be intimidating, especially when you don’t have a good basis for them. More specifically, New Year’s Resolutions can be hard to keep when they are without a plan or foundation. 

SMART Goals stand for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. By basing your goals for 2024 around the guide of SMART Goals, you are creating resolutions that are realistic and attainable. Take this example from Atlassian:

“Our goal is to [quantifiable objective] by [timeframe or deadline]. [Key players or teams] will accomplish this goal by [what steps you’ll take to achieve the goal]. Accomplishing this goal will [result or benefit].”

To learn more about how to apply SMART Goals to your 2024 lifestyle, visit: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals#:~:text=What%20are%20SMART%20goals%3F,within%20a%20certain%20time%20frame. 

 

Prioritize Gratitude

Sometimes it might feel easier to beat yourself up about your less-than-successful moments throughout the year. But an important habit to develop is gratitude, and by doing so you will find yourself more uplifted throughout 2024.

Whether you’re thankful for little moments in your day, or you keep track of significant positive events, practicing gratitude can improve your mental health. Throughout 2024, maintain a list of things you’re grateful for, and you might find some more good in the world. Learn more about practicing gratitude here: https://www.mindful.org/an-introduction-to-mindful-gratitude/

 

Focus on Your Wellness

Wellness looks different for everyone, whether that is mental health, physical health, etc. Regardless of what aspect of wellness is important to you, it is integral to a meaningful New Year that you take care of yourself!

In 2024, make a point to focus on the things that make your mind, body, and social life happy. For a more indepth look at wellness, check out Ohio State University’s 9 Dimensions of Wellness: https://wellness.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/2021/05/9%20Dimensions%20of%20Wellness%20Digital.pdf

 

Thank you for your support throughout 2023! We are excited for what 2024 has in store for Ohio Military Kids. We will see you in the new year.

A Quick History on Winter Solstice

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According to National Geographic Kids, Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the exact moment that the Earth is tilted the furthest away from the Sun, usually occurring on the 21st or 22nd of December. This year, the Winter Solstice lands on December 21st. Everyday after the 21st, the days will get a little longer.

 

Beyond the scientific side of the Winter Solstice, there are many cultural and religious traditions that surround this phenomena. According to Britannica, since ancient times, across the world people have recognized the significance of this astronomical occurrence in their own unique ways. Typically, most celebrate the return of the Sun after the Solstice. Solstice celebrations of the past have influenced the modern day holidays we know today, like Christmas and Hanukkah. Check out this list of traditional Solstice holidays, as we celebrate the Winter Solstice as we know it today.

 

Dong Zhi – “arrival of winter”

A tradition that emerges from China, Dong Zhi is an important festival in China. It serves as a way for families to come together and celebrate the previous year. Generally, the holiday falls between the 21st and 23rd of December. It originated as an end of harvest festival, with the farmers returning from the fields and enjoying the fruits of their labor. To learn more about Dong Zhi, visit https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/winter-solstice.htm.

 

St. Lucia’s Day

This festival of lights is celebrated in Scandinavia during the time of the Winter Solstice. Modernly, it is a Christian celebration that honors the martyr St. Lucia that incorporates Norce solstice traditions. To learn more about St. Lucia’s Day, visit https://www.britannica.com/topic/St-Lucias-Day.

 

Yalda

A Perisian festival, also known as Shab-e Yalda, originated in Iran during ancient times as a Winter Solstice Celebration. It marks the last day of the Persian month Azar. It celebrates the victory of light over dark, as well as the birthday of the Sun God Mithra. To learn more about Yalda, visit https://iraneducationalcenter.org/yalda-celebration/.

 

Soyal 

A Winter Solstice celebration of the Hopi Native Americans of northern Arizona, welcomes kachinas, which are spirits that the Hopi believe to be protective spirits from the mountains. To learn more about Soyal, visit https://wilderutopia.com/traditions/soyal-ceremony-hopi-kachinas-dance-at-winter-solstice/.

 

There are many more Winter Solstice celebrations across the globe, and they are not limited to this list. Learning about the different cultures, traditions, and values surrounding the Winter Solstice can make December 21st even more special. To learn more about Winter Solstice traditions, visit, https://www.history.com/news/8-winter-solstice-celebrations-around-the-world.

 

Adapted from:

https://www.britannica.com/list/7-winter-solstice-celebrations-from-around-the-world 

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/winter-solstice

4 Ways to Manage Holiday Stress for Military Youth

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The holiday season can be stressful for anyone, but especially for military kids. Whether it’s being separated from family or getting the perfect gifts for your family, those stressors are valid. Check out these stress management tips for military kids during the holiday season.

 

Maintain traditions or start new ones

Military youth may face a lot of uncertainty during the holiday season, and it may seem hard for them to stay grounded among the stress. To keep things consistent, be sure to maintain traditions with your friends and families during the holiday season! This can provide youth with a sense of community and continuity.

 

If you’re an older youth and are looking for ways to shake up the holidays (within reason, not Home Alone style), consider looking for new traditions for you and your family to enjoy. Check out this post from Parents to get some ideas for you and your family. 

 

Stay active

Staying active is a key role in improving mental health during any time of the year, but can prove to be difficult during the colder months. By participating in physical activity or exercise, your body releases endorphins that improves mood and emotions. It might be hard for youth to find the opportunity to prioritize physical activity during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. This article by the CDC dives into ways to remain healthy and active during the holidays.

 

Look into ways to volunteer and give back

It’s easy to get caught up in your own holiday responsibilities, but a good way for youth to reduce their stress is by volunteering and giving back. Whether it’s a local, regional, or state level event, volunteering not only gives youth a sense of purpose but also benefits those the volunteerism is directed toward. Look into local volunteer opportunities or find state-wide events. Homeless shelters, food banks, and dog shelters are just a few of the organizations that need help more than ever during this time of year.

 

Practice mindfulness

The holidays are a fast paced time of the year, and it can seem like things are moving at the speed of light. One way for youth to remain grounded and in the moment is through the use of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being aware and in the moment via your thoughts and emotions. This is an intentional form of meditation that can help kids feel less overwhelmed during this busy season.

 

Check out these mindfulness exercises for kids from Waterford that are easy to implement during the holiday season.

Holiday Travel Hacks for Families

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Although the holiday day season is full of fun and joy, it can oftentimes be stressful for families for a number of reasons. One of the biggest stressors is travel. Jumping from city to city or state to state for holiday meals and traditions can cause a lot of unwanted stress on families. To mitigate some of that stress, check out this list of holiday travel hacks for families.

Use packing cubes
Whether you are flying or road tripping, packing cubes can be a great space saver when it comes to travel. If you’re looking for a cost-effective choice, check out Amazon’s 8 Set Packing Cubes for Suitcases. If you want to splurge a little, look into CalPak’s Packing Cubes Set (5 Pieces).

Save money on food and snacks by packing your own
You may dread the food options when it comes to traveling, endless drive throughs and fast-food restaurants. Avoid those less-than-desirable options by taking the initiative to plan and pack food/snacks for your family. Not only may you save money, but you’re giving your family more healthy options.

This can look different depending on the type of trip your family is taking. For short-term car rides, consider SELEWARE Portable Stackable Food Storage Containers for Snacks. However, if you’re traveling long distances and need something to hold larger amounts of food, check out the XXL-Large Insulated Cooler Bags with Zipper Closure.

Use laundry bags to keep dirty clothes separate
It can be frustrating trying to keep dirty clothes separate or organized when staying in hotel rooms or other spaces when traveling. To better organize laundry when away from home, take some laundry bags with you on your trip!

These laundry bags from Amazon don’t take up much space and are cost effective! Use them to reduce clutter and keep things separate when traveling.

Travel during “sleep time”
Young kids can get antsy and anxious during car rides and flights. To reduce the stress on them (and yourself), consider scheduling flights/car rides during times that they normally sleep during. Not only are you saving them some stress, but you’re not wasting any daylight during travel!

Look into discounts for military families
Regardless of any travel hacks, traveling can be expensive. American Forces Travel provides a comprehensive guide to all military discounts when it comes to travel. Check out their service to see what you and your family qualify for!