HealthyYOU Resources Home > Information for Staff > HealthyYOU Resources A A A Greetings from your friends at the Pieters Family Life Center! We understand this time is challenging, and our goal is to offer some tools that will keep people: moving with exercise engaged in creative outlets laughing exercising their faith remaining socially connected If an activity listed below doesn’t work for you, try a different modification. Always be mindful of fall risks, for yourself and others. Make sure that when doing these activities that you’re practicing good social distancing – that means keeping at least six feet between you and others. Always wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after doing any activity. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water; wash between your fingers and under your nails, too. If you’re using hand sanitizer, be sure to use a full pump and to rub on both the tops and palms of your hands until they are dry. If you have any questions, be sure to reach out to a member of our staff and ask! Send an email to [email protected] and someone will get in touch. Get Creative Music Music lifts spirits and can bring people together even when we’re encouraged to stay apart. Music therapist Lauren Faggiano is available for virtual sing alongs! These can be done on an individual basis or for groups. Through the wonders of Zoom and FaceTime, she can even connect to more than one site at the same time! If you would like to arrange a sing along with Lauren, email her at [email protected] . Please include your preferred contact information and she will make all arrangements for this virtual meeting. Music therapist, Melinda Schirmer put together the following song lists to help motivate and energize you and to help you relax if you are feeling anxious. All songs are available on YouTube. Upbeat songs can encourage you to complete tasks. 3 Things – Jason Mraz Keep Your Head Up – Andy Grammer Never Give Up – Sia Rescue – Yuna Breathing along with slower paced songs can slow racing thoughts and ease tension. All Will Be Will – Gabe Dixon Band Rainbow – Kacey Musgraves Rise Up – Andra Day Art Coloring with gel pens, colored pencils, markers, or crayons can be enjoyable and relaxing. Click here to download a printable mandala and a springtime image. While you are making these images your own, think about what you like best about spring! To create circle art, on a large piece of paper, using a permanent marker, trace a yogurt cup or other round object several times, overlapping circles at times. Once the paper is filled with overlapping circles in any pattern you’d like, color in the shapes that have been created using markers, colored pencils or watercolor paints. Keeping the Faith Each Tuesday, Faith Community Inclusion Specialist Padraic Collins-Bohrer will e-mail each house a sheet with printed prayers which can be prayed together. During this unsettling time when we are physically separated from our friends and families, Padraic is also available to join you for individual or group prayers. Please e-mail him at [email protected] to request prayer or to arrange details for meeting virtually. In your e-mail please let him know the best way to contact you. For questions about any of these activities please contact Padraic at [email protected] or 585-944-1718. Get Outdoors Being outside has many positive effects for our minds and bodies. Even just five minutes outside can make a big difference in our attitudes and happiness. Here are some ideas for outdoor activities that can be done while maintaining safe social distancing of at least six feet from others. It’s officially spring! That means that the birds are coming back and singing their songs. Go for a walk outside and see how many different types of birds you can spot. Consider using this great resource for bird identification. Make a bird feeder and place it near a window. Most of the objects needed for this project can be found right at home. Play bird bingo. Have a super-sized outdoor March Madness tic-tac-toe tournament. Make a tic-tac-toe board with chalk or painter’s tape. Use paper plates with Xs and Os drawn on them as makers. Download a printable bracket here. Exercise with Emily It seems as though the world has been on pause, giving us a chance to “start over” or “refresh ourselves”. Consider starting small; focus on just doing just one thing today and each day after this to improve your fitness. Consider starting the walking challenge, push-up challenge, or plank challenge. Start at day 1, and follow each day on the challenge’s calendar until you get to the end. Each challenge starts small with five kneeling push-ups, a 20 minute walk, or holding a plank for as long as you’re able to (be sure to check out the modifications, too). Find what you’re most interested in and “run” with it! You never know where it’ll take you. All you have to do is set your mind to completing one small task each day, and by the end of the challenge, you’ll have a great feeling of accomplishment. So go on, get out there, and take the first step! Be fearless, go out on a limb, and conquer the day, one push-up, plank, or walk at a time. Making a Difference There are many in our local community who cannot have visitors right now. Many of those people live in nursing homes. Take some time to brighten their day by making a thoughtful card. The card does not have to be to anyone specific. Maybe as a team, you and your housemates could create many cards that could be sent to a local nursing home. Maybe you or someone in your home has a family member in one of these homes. Be the light and share the love! Laugh Out Loud! Make time to share a laugh! Jokes: What is full of holes but holds water? A sponge! What did the big flower say to the little flower? Hi, Bud! Where do polar bears keep their money? In a snowbank! Where do cows go on Friday nights? To the moo-vies! Here’s something cute to watch. With their aquarium shut down, penguins get to explore freely. Search the hashtag #quarantinecats on social media to see funny cat photos! More Information You can still access the public library! If you have a library card you can set up a digital account through the Libby app or the Overdrive app. On these apps you can access an abundance of audiobooks, e-magazines, e-books and more. Take advantage of all your library can offer! Many museums, national parks and zoos are offering free virtual tours! Simply Google free virtual tours and you will be guided to many different options.