11/1/21: Sequence
10/25/21: Ticket To Ride the Nordic Countries
10/18/21: No Class
10/11/21: Sequence & Clue
10/4/21: Apples To Apples
9/27/21: Monopoly & Clue
9/20/21: Apples To Apples
______________________________________________________________
My Post Pandemic Life
6/14/21
This will be our last class of the term. What do you think about it? What should I change, what should I keep?
Last week you did your research on your interest area. Hopefully you got some ideas on which habits you need to add/change to move forward. Watch the part of the video on breaking down your goals into habits of 3 and how to implement, review and sift. Create a realistic plan to develop these habits and pursue your interest.
3.Break down your goals into habits of 3 learning how to roller skate
Habit 1 stretch and do leg workouts three times a week in the morning
Habit 2 Going and practicing skating three times a week
Habit 3 purchase skates
4.Implement, review and sift
I will implement my plan by (be very specific) I will do leg workouts three times a week in the morning, purchase skates and go practice three time a week.
I will review my plan each _Each weekend ____
I will update and sift my goal every _Month__________
6/7/21
https://calendar.eugeneweekly.com/cal
https://www.eugenecascadescoast.org/plan/weather-seasons/summer/
https://www.registerguard.com/entertainmentlife/20180601/park-it-for-outdoor-concert-movie-theater-season-in-lane-county
https://www.downtowneugene.com/explore/events/
5/24/21
Wow! One more month left of school and the pandemic is in retreat. As vaccinations increase, infection rates, hospitalization and death rates go down. The guidance on mask wearing is confusing.
The settings where fully-vaccinated individuals are still required to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing are:
- health care;
- “adult jails and correctional facilities”;
- “shelters and transitional housing”;
- “K-12 schools. (Fully vaccinated individuals must comply with Ready School, Safe Learners (RSSL) guidance face covering requirements)”;
- transportation and transportation hubs such as airports and bus stations; and
- “other settings where the owner or operator continues to apply and enforce the mask, face covering and face shield guidance, and physical distancing requirements in state COVID-19 guidance.”
Today we will continue doing research on how to meet the post pandemic goals that you have. Choose one of your goals and research online how to succeed. For example saying “I will control my anger” is a great goal, but how? If it was easy, it would have happened already. Make notes of your research to prepare for step 3.
5/17/21
Let’s visualize next school year 21-22. How old will you be? Will you still be part of Connections? Are there any changes you would like to make?
Which micro task did you choose? How did it go? If you were successful, would you like to continue to work on this micro task, add another, or change it completely? If you were not successful, why?
1.Create a list of your interests
culinary chef, cooking, drawing, learning to roller skate, swimming above water, interactive historic adventures, animals, crafts, making slime, singing, comedy, knowing your schedule, how to write a check, when to pay rent, pay bills
2.Carry out your research
you tube, online, books, talk to people, alexa, go to a store, observe others, watch a documentary, podcast, magazine, research teachers or class
3.Break down your goals into habits of 3
4.Implement, review and sift
5/10/21
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
How did that work for you? Did it help you act instead of talking yourself out of doing what you need to do?
What small change can you start doing right away that you can stick to?
If you want to have a completely different life in a year or two, you need to start now, and you need to start small. Here, 22 impactful microhabits you can begin tonight.
1. Try to be rejected more.
Every day, reach out to one or two people who you’d like to work with, even if you are certain they would have no reason to respond. You might not hear back at first, but eventually, you will get a response from someone. You have nothing to lose, but potentially a lot to gain.
2. Write one paragraph.
Journaling is one way to improve your life. Write just a few sentences each day. The momentum will build on its own and you’ll find yourself effortlessly writing more and more… but commit to just beginning with one paragraph.
3. Check your bank account.
Make it a habit to check in your accounts at least once a day. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. But what’s important is that you’re keeping yourself aware of exactly what you have, and where it’s going. Getting a better grip on your finances begins with having a consistently accurate mental layout of your accounts.
4. Get used to maintenance.
Many people believe that living your best life is like running a victory lap every day. In reality, it is more like being willing to tend to the unglamorous maintenance of things, like chores, cleaning, healthy cooking, staying current on bills and work assignments, or making time for exercise.
The quality of your life will be directly and drastically improved if you can incorporate necessary maintenance into your daily routine, and learn to see it as something that helps you rather than hinders you from having a great time.
5. Choose comfort for your future self over comfort right now.
If you want to change your life, you need to start considering the needs and wants of your future self over the ones you have right now. Prioritizing how you feel and what you want in the moment is what lead you here. Instead, commit to making choices for the benefit of your future self. The idea that “being present” means disregarding anything but your most base instincts and desires is not enlightenment, it is self-destruction.
6. Be more responsive.
If someone sends a text, answer it when you see it. As often as you are able, respond to important emails as they come in. This will ensure that you aren’t left with a backlog of work that needs to be tended to.
7. Be less reactive.
When you see or hear something that immediately enrages you or upsets you (even if it’s just a negative thought that crops up in your head) before reacting to it and pouring your energy into it, question it. Figure out where it came from, and ask yourself whom your reaction to it would serve. Learning to take that micro-pause between a stimulus and your response will change the way you look at everything.
8. Fulfill your base needs.
You are not a machine, but in some ways, your body and life does require that you fuel it in certain ways to keep it running. Eat when you are hungry. Sleep when you are tired. Trying to deny the importance of your most basic requirements for functioning does not mean you are busy and important, it means you are ignorant and setting yourself up for a breakdown or burnout.
9. Curate your sphere of influence.
You know that the people you spend the most time with have a significant impact on who you will become.
But do you also realize that what you are surrounding yourself with and putting into your head is having just as much, if not even more, of an effect on you? Take a serious look at who you follow online and what their presence on your newsfeed does for you, or perhaps how cluttered your home or office space is. This is your environment, and it is having a silent, and often subconscious, impact on you at all times.
10. Take action when you want to do something.
In Mel Robbin’s The 5 Second Rule, she explains that a lot of what holds people back is those few seconds between when you have an amazing idea, and when your brain interferes. She says that to really move your life forward, you need to act on your ideas before you convince yourself not to.
11. Take action when you don’t.
At the same time, it’s imperative to learn that just because you do not feel like doing something does not mean you are incapable of doing it. Your feelings do not impact your ability.
12. Read more.
If you aren’t someone who can get through a book, that’s okay. But it’s not an excuse to stop learning, growing and developing yourself. Follow people on social media that post or share interesting articles and ideas. Read a news story in the morning. Listen to an audiobook on your commute. How much you read is directly related to your self-growth, and your self-growth is directly related to your external success.
13. Scroll less.
Whereas sifting through TV channels was once the mindless past time of years past, now it’s scrolling through news feeds. Train yourself to limit your “scroll” time each day. Try one of those browser installations that give you a set amount of time you can spend on a website in a day before it blocks access to the site, or apps that counts how many times you open social media apps. You don’t have to delete them entirely, but you should be mindful that you’re not spending multiple hours a day effectively doing nothing.
14. Observe your patterns.
Instead of being critical of yourself when you notice that you’re procrastinating, or engaging in an unhealthy behavior, notice what prompts it. Notice what you’re doing when you feel most at ease, most inspired, or most frustrated. Observe yourself as a third party, treat your life like something you are studying. Get to know what you react to and how — this can help you direct your life.
15. Practice saying “no.”
Your energy is limited each day. Make sure it is only going toward that you truly care about. You should not feel bad about saying “no” to some things. It is ultimately a means of self-preservation.
16. Practice diverting your attention.
When you have a self-defeating thought, the solution isn’t usually to mull on it until you arrive at a different conclusion. The solution is usually to distract yourself with something productive. Get better at diverting your attention to something that helps you, not negative thoughts that can lead to a spiral.
17. Share your ideas consistently and clearly.
Having ideas is great, but they won’t go anywhere if you aren’t able to articulate them, or come up with an action plan that allows you to implement them.
18. Use what you have.
The next time you have the urge to go pick up dinner or a new outfit for the weekend, challenge yourself just once to wear what’s in your closet, or eat what’s in your pantry, even if you don’t want to that much.
19. Drink one more glass of water.
Don’t worry about pressuring yourself to get all recommended 8 cups down perfectly. Just focus on drinking one more. Then, when that’s part of your routine, add another.
20. Eat one less unhealthy snack.
Don’t worry about trying to completely overhaul your diet and perfect every single thing that crosses your lips. Focus only on foregoing one single unhealthy choice that you’d make on any given day. Just one.
21. Create open portals for people to reach and contact you for what you want to do.
Make sure that you are consistently making your information available to those who may want to reach out to you. Your personal website and online presence is the new résumé, so make sure you are consistently updating and improving it, and making it easy for others to understand what you do and how to reach you.
22. Begin each day asking yourself: “How can I change my life today?”
Get out of the mindset that you have to “get through” the day and get into the mindset that the coming hours are filled with open-ended potential for you to take action that will change your life forever. The only difference is your willingness to see things differently, and your effort in trying to make them better.
5/3/21
Ugh, now Lane County is in extreme risk from Covid 19! If you want to get a vaccine and haven’t gotten it yet, 4j is providing them for students. Please talk to your advocate or case manager and they will help you.
Let’s visualize your summer! This may be difficult since we don’t know the level of social distancing required but I would suggest thinking that it will remain high would be a safe bet.
Personal Development Definition
Personal Development is the process of improving oneself through conscious habits and activities.
It is the pursuit of personal growth to enhance the quality of life and to achieve one’s dreams and aspirations.
Now that you’ve recognized that a “story” you have created from your past or present how can you build a different perspective, let’s move forward!
Looking at a few of the “stories” that you discovered that you could have reacted differently to, what skills would you like to further develop in yourself? How will you develop and practice these skills?
I would like to get better at ______________________________
- Having a positive attitude
- consistent stretching
- being a flexible thinker
- keeping his hair short
This is why I need to get better at it _____________________________________
- It sucks being negative and people don’t respond well to it
- it would help him feel better
- this would prevent me from getting upset when plans change
- long hair can get hot and itchy
This is how I will learn more about how to get better at it ______________________
- think of the things that are going well
- a list of stretches from physical therapists or youtube videos
- research
- learn how to cut hair using a manual and decide how often a hair cut is needed
This is how I will practice this skill _____________________________________
- stop negative thinking patterns by practicing gratitude
- setting time aside to do it in the morning
- remembering that plans change for a specific reason
- use a razor and hand mirror better
Let’s learn about and try the 5 second rule:
Don’t use this technique to be impulsive though. Impulsivity is not even giving it a second before you act. I was given some good advice once “give yourself a deep breath before acting”
4/26/21
Learn from your mistakes. Regret is like any other emotion; it serves a basic survival function. Be open to embracing the productive aspects of regret in order to lessen its duration.
- Regret is how we learn to reexamine our actions. Personal growth and positive change would be impossible without something forcing us to periodically identify decisions that lead to negative consequences.
- Reframe your thoughts on the regretful situation or decision. Think of mistakes as opportunities to grow and change. Young people tend to cope better with regret, and much of that is attributed to the fact they view the emotion as a positive. They embrace the fact that regret is key to change and growth.
- What could you have done differently. Oftentimes, people blame external circumstances for their actions. This leads to more bad decisions and, in turn, more regret. For example, say you were late to work because you didn’t get enough sleep. You might blame a stressful week or other things for your actions and next night comes around you’ll end up repeating the process. If instead, you think, “Staying up late was a bad decision and I faced consequences,” you’re more likely to avoid such actions in the future. You’ve embraced the fact you have control over the situation rather than diverting control to external forces.
Allow yourself to grieve disappointments. Sometimes, when circumstances are particularly unfavorable, we need to experience sadness. Allowing yourself time to embrace disappointment for an appropriate duration can help you recharge.
- Sadness is much like regret; it’s a negative emotion but one that’s beneficial to us as a species. Sad feelings push the mind into a hyper focused mode, which allows you to evaluate problems and figure out how to come to terms with life’s difficulties.
- It’s normal to respond to negative circumstances with sadness. Avoiding those feelings can prolong the duration of your regret and frustration. After a particularly harsh failure, give yourself a week to grieve your loss and experience your disappointment.
Evaluate relationships. Oftentimes, our most regrettable moments stem from bad relationships with friends, family members, and significant others.
- If you’re having a difficult time, leading to feelings of sadness and regret, are your friends coming through for you? Who is offering you their support and love and who is fading to the background?
- Identify those people who do not support you emotionally and who have, in the past, ensnared you in difficult situations. Continuing to foster negative interpersonal relationship longterm is something you will come to regret. Cut ties with those who do not support you and get closer to those who do.
Think of a story you are telling yourself that doesn’t serve you well. Take a step back and look at the setting, plot and characters. Have you left any personal responsibility out of the story? What did you learn from the conflict? How can you edit the story? Can you write the story from another point of view? How does this change the story?
Now that you’ve recognized that a “story” you have created from your past or present can have a different perspective, let’s move forward!
4/19/21
Did you create vision board? You can share it with the group if you like. Where did you put it so you can see it often?
Now that you have envisioned how you would like your life to be, lets create a plan to move forward if your vision does not meet your current life.
For many people it is holding on to past ideas, hurts and stresses which hold us back.
Summary of video:
Some people say the our past experiences creates our current life.
The story we tell about the past can change how we experienced the past.
4/12/21
All Oregonians over 16 eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine starting April 19!
Spend some time thinking about how you want your life to look like in a month in these 4 areas:
Vocational -(work) where you see yourself working and making a living
Training – (life is a process of learning) what do you need or want to learn more about
Social – (friends, relationships, family) what do you want your social life to look like
Independent Living (adulting) what skills do you need to live the independent life you may want
Let’s create a vision board to help remind you of your ideal life and motivate you to achieve it.
4/5/21
Spend some time thinking about how you want your life to look like in these 4 areas:
Vocational -(work) where you see yourself working and making a living
Training – (life is a process of learning) what do you need or want to learn more about
Social – (friends, relationships, family) what do you want your social life to look like
Independent Living (adulting) what skills do you need to live the independent life you may want
3/29/21
How has your life changed already?
Lane County has entered the “low risk,” see this website to see what is allowed under our current restrictions.
https://coronavirus.oregon.gov/Pages/living-with-covid-19.aspx
Have you gotten your vaccine?
Vision Boards – Make A Plan For What You Want
A vision board can be a very useful tool to help you focus and visualize what you want in life. A vision board is basically a collage that allows you to lay out your ideal future using pictures and words. Studies show visualizing your goals can improve motivation, and concentration, while reducing fear and anxiety.
Some Areas Of Life To Consider When Creating A Vision Board:
Things You Will Need To Create A Physical Vision Board:
Magazines, pictures, photos, colored pencils, markers, pens, scissors, glue, pins (if using corkboard), poster board, paper, cardstock, canvas, corkboard, stickers.
“Everything About Vision Boards”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw8ZwoLqdPc
Steve Harvey & Oprah On Vision Boards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJNed-owcP8
Jack Canfield: How To Create A Vision Board:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iamZEW0x3dM
Digital Vision Boards:
You can create a beautiful digital vision board using Pages, Word, Google Docs, or your favorite photo editing software or App.
You can use the free sites:
Canva https://www.canva.com/ or PicMonkety https://www.picmonkey.com/
Here is a link to a video with some ideas for creating your own digital vision board. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcXm7R3BUdU