Family Resource

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.

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.

A Crock Pot Recipe to Keep You Warm this Fall – Gluten Free Lasagna Soup

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The weather is getting cooler and the days are shorter. Use this easy and cost efficient lasagna soup recipe to keep you and your family warm this fall!

Close up image of Lasagna Soup in a black bowl with a side of bread.

Ingredients:

  • Ground Beef
  • Onion 
  • Red Bell Pepper 
  • Petite Diced Tomatoes 
  • Crushed Tomatoes 
  • Minced Garlic
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Beef Broth (use chicken broth, if you prefer)
  • Gluten Free Rotini Pasta
  • Ricotta Cheese
  • Mozzarella Cheese 
  • Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

  1. Brown your ground beef by your preferred method. Drain the excess grease.
  2. Place your ground beef, onion, red bell pepper, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning and beef broth in the crock pot.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
  4. Stir in the uncooked rotini pasta. Cover and cook on a medium high heat setting for 20-40 minutes until the noodles are cooked through to a tenderness you prefer.
  5. When serving your gluten free lasagna soup, top it off with a tablespoon of ricotta cheese, and a handful of mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
  6. Enjoy your yummy meal!

It isn’t necessary to cook the pasta before adding it to the sauce, as it will cook in the sauce. You can freeze the gluten free lasagna soup and reheat it for some delicious leftovers. 

Adapted from Eating on a Dime