We Could All Use a Chill Week

Let’s face it. The last few months have been tough on all of us in different ways. We could all use a break. This year, Change to Chill is inviting you to join us in celebrating Chill Week from your home or school next week, October 5-9.

Explore what Change to Chill has to offer in the form of relaxation, finding balance and unwinding on themed days. Review our Chill Week guide to find ways to Chill at home or at school throughout the week!

Join us on October 1 from 9-10:30AM for a free, virtual community training called Coping with Change. Learn key strategies to help you identify your personal stressors and discover free Change to Chill resources available help increase resiliency. Register today!

So Long Stigma

Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets an individual or a group apart. It’s a label. A stereotype. A pre-judgment before getting to really know the person and the details of their situation. Stigma leads people to reject, avoid, or fear those they perceive as different. We’ve all seen stigma in action and it’s time to put an end to it.

There are lots of different kinds of stigma. At Change to Chill, we’re concerned with stigma about stress and related problems such as anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions.

Check out our new resources and find out how YOU can help reduce stigma today!

Join us on October 1 from 9-10:30AM for a free, virtual community training called Coping with Change. Learn key strategies to help you identify your personal stressors and discover free Change to Chill resources available to help increase resiliency. Register today!

Coping with Change

Just when it starts to feel like we’re establishing routines, life changes. Sometimes it’s planned and sometimes it’s completely unexpected. No matter the change, it takes time to adjust.

Change is inevitable and helps build resilience when we are able to cope in healthy ways. A few weeks ago, we asked teens to share with us how they’re coping with all the changes 2020 has brought.

Watch the video below and listen to their helpful tips to inspire you to make a list of healthy coping skills!

Understanding your feelings is a good place to start and can also prove challenging. Use this feelings wheel or other helpful tools on Change to Chill’s new “Living with Grief & Loss” page to help you navigate changes in your life.

Relax. Refresh. Recharge.

Today is the first day of school for many. For others, it’s the transition to a new season. Whatever change you’re experiencing, it’s important to relax, refresh and recharge.

We are all going through something. When we treat ourselves with compassion and take necessary breaks, we build resilience and are more able to treat others with compassion and kindness.

Start today by visiting Change to Chill’s new virtual chill zone!

Visit www.changetochill.org often to stay up-to-date on the latest tools and resources to support your mental well-being.

During times of uncertainty, unrest and even the changing of seasons, we hear more about grief and loss. But what exactly is grief and what are we allowed and not allowed to grieve?

Grief is the natural response to the loss of something or someone important to you. It can include emotions, physical sensations (heartache is real), and changes in the way you think. It is something everyone inevitably experiences eventually and it is completely unique to individuals and each situation. No two experiences of grief are the same.

Grief is often related to a death, but not always. People grieve loss of health, changing relationships, moving to a different school or home, experiencing trauma, ending an era of life, changing routine, and much more. There are no rules about what is or is not okay to grieve.

Just as each person’s experience with grief is unique, so are the things that help. Here is a list of things that many people find important to do or remember as part of the process.

1. Be patient with yourself.
2. Do what you can to keep some normal routine for health and social contact.
3. Connect with others.
4. Take the time you need.
5. Find rituals and activities that support your journey.

Change to Chill has tools and resources to help you restore life balance. Learn more.

Change to Chill is here to support you. Visit www.changetochill.org often to stay up-to-date on the latest tools and resources to support your mental well-being.

“Mental health is a very important part of our lives and I don’t think it gets talked about or put into focus enough, especially for students. Allina Health is working on changing that with their Change to Chill program. This year, Faribault High School is one of 16 schools that has been selected for the program.” Read more.

Promoting Mental Well-being in Schools

This year, Change to Chill is partnering with 16 middle and high schools throughout Minnesota and Western Wisconsin to bring Change to Chill to their student bodies. Two students from each school participated in a virtual summer “Chill Champion” program to learn stress management and coping skills, practice mindfulness exercises and create a plan for how to implement Change to Chill in their schools for both virtual and in-person settings.

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Each school received $1000 to plan a “Chill Zone,” a place for students and staff to de-stress and relax, parent/guardian communication, trainings and ongoing technical support throughout the school year. To learn more about Change to Chill School Partnership, visit the Change to Chill website.

Thank you to all of our Chill Champions and partner schools:

• Buffalo Community Middle School
• Cambridge Middle School
• Faribault Area Learning Center
• Faribault High School
• Forest Lake Middle School
• Hastings Middle School
• Hidden Oaks Middle School
• Isanti Middle School
• Meyer Middle School
• Orono High School
• Red Rock Central High School
• Rockford High School
• Saint Francis High School
• Southwest High School
• Stillwater High School
• Twin Oaks Middle School

Looking to create your own Chill Zone at school or at home? Review our helpful tips and tricks to get you started!

Spreading Kindness

The past year has brought all sorts of challenges. During times like these, it’s important to remind ourselves that spreading kindness not only has a positive effect on the recipient but on us as well. Kindness can help us to feel more thankful, less stressed and lead happier and healthier lives overall.

Leading with kindness and assuming the best intentions allows us to acknowledge our feelings as valid while also considering others’ points of view and asking for clarity when needed. This can prevent misunderstandings, contention and hurt feelings while also leading to fruitful discussions, growth and helping strengthen relationships.

Here are some simple ways to spread kindness while practicing physical distancing:

1. Send a letter or a card to let someone know you are thinking about them.
2. Thank someone for something they did or show your appreciation.
3. Tell someone what they mean to you.
4. Comment, share or like a post you read online.
5. Text someone good morning or good night.

Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind. What other ideas to you have for spreading kindness? Send them to [email protected].

Looking for more ways to connect with others? Check out our upcoming webinar, “Staying Connected While Physically Distant,” to learn more about the benefits of social connections and walk away with ideas to strengthen your relationships with loved ones and strangers alike.

Finding Balance Through Self-Care

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Stress: what is it, who has it and how do we talk about it?

Stress is our bodies’ natural way of coping with being frightened or challenged, releasing chemicals into our bloodstream that provide extra short-term energy and alertness. We’ve all had times when our bodies react to stress. We can feel it. It’s the sensation known as fight or flight.
Read more ›