Feeling Stress? Keeping Calm in a Difficult Time

Thich Nhat Hanh Collective

It's not always easy to wrap our heads around the whiplash of the last week (there were sports; stores everywhere were open; only toilet paper and hand sanitizer supplies were sold out; schools were in session) to where we are today.

Change at this pace is stressful, impactful, and often surreal. Top that off with the reason all this has changed - a very real pandemic spreading throughout not just our communities but the world. That worry is compounded by concern for our loved ones, our community and ourselves.

It's alot.

So today we share some calming resources for our kids and ourselves.

Resources for Supporting Children's Emotional Well-being during COVID-19 Pandemic from Child Trends 3/19/30

Fact Sheet -  Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration 3/20

Talking to Teens and Tweens about the Coronavirus. NYTimes 3/2/20

Ways to turn negatives into positives - Psychologist Offers Mental Health Advice amid COVID-19 Outbreak. Channel 3000 3/16/20

Fact Sheet - Coping with Stress During Infectious Outbreaks. from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration 3/20

While we are apart, many groups are coming together simultaneously to pray, be mindful, meditate and send out good karma into the the world. Here are just two examples:

• Virtual Dance for Healing MPRnews 3/17/20 " We were not only dancing for our healing, but also to guide our scientists and physicians, into finding a cure, or help for the people. So this wasn’t just for us, it’s for everybody,” explained Manidooniibikwe, or Barb Rodaks, a member of the Fond du Lac Ojibwe band who danced with Northrup."
• Virtual Meditation -  People who practice Transcendental Meditation are virtually joining together by doing their daily meditations simultaneously at 6:00 or 7:30 am CST and 5:00 or 6:00 pm CST to create a wave of inner and outer calm for the whole country.

Let's take a deep breath, stay calm, and carry on. We will get through this.

What other resources have you find helpful? Please share in comments.

Links to YSS COVID-19 series:

Online Storytimes

Getting Started with Virtual Storytimes  5/27/20

Virtual Storytime – Tips on Fair Use & Kids’ Privacy 5/4/20

“How to Do a Virtual Storytime” Webinars 4/13/20

Tips on Doing Online Storytimes During COVID-19 Closures 3/16/20; updated 3/20/20

Storytime Goes Digital 3/20/20

Digital Storytimes- You Do You! 3/31/20

Digital Storytime, Screen Time and Intentionality – Oh My 4/6/20

Facebook Live Online Storytime Tips 3/24/20

Fixing "My Book is Backwards in Online Storytime!" on iPhone 3/22/20

SLP & Programming Resources

Summer Scavenger Hunt Fun 5/30/20

Digital Escape Rooms – the Holy Grail  5/26/20

SLP Virtual and Offline Program Ideas for Teens/Tweens  5/22/20

Virtual and Offline Programs for Summer and Beyond  5/6/20

“Grab-&-Go” Activity Kit Ideas  5/5/20

DIY Family Activities for SLP from CSLP 5/1/20

Offline and Feeling Fine: Ideas for Programming Unvirtually  4/29/20

Virtual Programming & SLP Ideas for YOU! 4/25/20

Beyond E-Storytimes: Virtual Services and Programs for Youth 4/22/20

Using Premier for Virtual Programming on Facebook 3/24/20

Re-Opening and Safety Issues

We’re Re-opening – Coping with Reluctant Patrons and Programming 6/1/20

We’re Re-Opening – Cleaning and Disinfecting Youth Areas  5/13/20

COVID-19 and Libraries: Your Questions Answered with Dr. Dipesh Navsaria 5/19/20

Permissions (Books, Authors and Music)

Want Permission? Current Info on Publishers and Authors 3/22/20; updated 4/23/20

      Music Permissions? Look No Further  3/27/20; updated 3/31/20

Professional Development

Webinar - Summer Learning Through Our Public Libraries in a Time of COVID-19  5/18/20

Confronting Xenophobia and Supporting Asian and Asian/Pacific Communities Webinar 4/21/20

Working From Home During COVID-19 4/19/20

Need to Keep Up? Free Online Professional Development  3/21/20

Webinar -Remote and Online Services & Resources for Youth Librarians  3/25/20

Free Children’s/Teen Professional Journal Access 3/28/20

Creating Accessibility in Your Online Programming 4/15/20; updated 4/23/20

Kids Resources

Curated List of Free COVID-19 EBooks for Kids 4/27/20

Infographic to Help Parents with Tech Time During COVID-19 4/2/20

Tips on Safe and Inclusive Gaming/Livestreaming for Families 4/6/20

Talking to Kids About COVID-19  3/28/20

Ear Ticklin’ Listening/Viewing for Kids at Home 3/30/20

WI Online Program Data

Data Collection for Virtual Programs 3/17/20

More Info on Data Collection for Virtual Programs 3/19/20

Friday FAQs with Tessa Michaelson Schmidt

4/10/20 recording       4/17/20 recording          4/24/20 recording        5/1/20 recording               5/8/20 recording

5/15/20 recording       5/22/20 recording; 5/29/20 recording

Taking Care of You 

Human Connections in a Time of Pandemic  3/27/20

Feeling Stress? Keeping Calm in a Difficult Time 3/21/20