Begin with family and friends.  During this time when it is hard to be connected to many, be connected to those who are closest to you.  

This is a great opportunity to put the mindset of curiosity and empathy into practice in your own home.  Remember that behavior is communication and when children and partners are irritable, snappy and sad they are communicating stress and anxiety or boredom and frustration.  Utilize restorative questions to help loved ones tell their story and express their feelings. Use the questions to center yourself and reflect. When tensions are high use deep breathing, count to ten and in a neutral, curious tone ask, “What is happening?” or “What do you need?”  These questions spoken in a loving way can do much to calm strong emotions and de-escalate mounting tensions.  

Take time each day with the people you are living with to acknowledge what you have to be grateful for.  Gratitude is the best antidote to fear! Look for the silver lining in each day. What were you able to do today that you would not have had the opportunity to do if we were not social distancing?  And, have fun together.  

Practice Self Care:

• Get outside - nature and connecting with the Earth can be calming and healing! Check out Children and Nature Network for ways to connect with nature during Covid19.  

• Exercise - there are many great free online workouts available!  

• Do something each day that gives you pleasure.  

• Use a guided meditation app such as InsightTimer to begin or continue a mindfulness practice each day.  There are meditations that are as short as one minute! Invite your children, partner, family members, or housemates to join you.  

• As tempting as it may be to turn to comfort food, do your best to eat a balanced healthy diet.  

• As tempting as it may be to let go of nighttime rituals and routines, know that they are more helpful than ever at a time of uncertainty.  

• Develop a daily schedule for the weekdays and do your best to stick to it - especially if you have kids!  Take the weekend off from the schedule to give yourself and your family “the weekend” to look forward to! 

Restorative Practices are just that - practices. See this time of social distancing as an opportunity to deepen your own practice. This time can be a way to develop and practice a restorative mindset.  Approach conflict and difference with an open mind and curiosity. Listen more than you speak. Ask the people in your life to share their stories and listen with an open heart. Be compassionate and gentle with yourself and practice self care.  It is difficult to be restorative with others if you are feeling depleted. Connect through fun and pleasurable activities every day! 

For educators, when schools do resume whether this spring or next fall know that students and staff will need time to connect and reflect on this unprecedented time.  Circles will be more important than ever for everyone to tell their stories of their time away from each other and for everyone to be able to express their fears about coming back into the world.  There will be many stories to tell when the social distancing is over. We must make the time for the people in our communities to tell those stories. For this is how we heal!  

So much creativity and innovation is born from times of upheaval!  In the comments below, share how you are creating opportunities for your students, staff and others in your life to connect during social distancing!  Your success stories can uplift and inspire others!!!