mind

Daily Journaling While Social Distancing

By | NESCA Notes 2020

By Dot Lucci, M.Ed., CAGS
Director of Consultation and Psychoeducational Services, NESCA

*This post was originally published almost a year ago. While we slowly start to emerge from our quarantine and begin to safely re-engage in some of the activities and duties from our pre-pandemic lives, it is important to remember to participate in activities to better ourselves and others on a daily basis.

This is such a unique time that we are living in, but one day it will be a distant memory. Get a special journal book, make it from scratch or create one online. It will give you something to look back on and remember how you achieved something every day, smiled and made it through a very surreal time in history. Keep your journal to share with future generations. While we are practicing social distancing or being asked to stay home, challenge yourself to do something out of every category below on a daily basis. Do something for your brain, your mental health, your body, your home, your community, your creativity, your family, the environment and your friends/neighbors. Adults and kids can do this.

While Physically Distancing, Do Something For:

Your Brain	❏ Do a puzzle ❏ Listen to a podcast ❏ Tour a Virtual Museum ❏ READ ❏ Challenge yourself with a game, crossword puzzle, Sudoku, etc.
Your Mental Health	❏ Try a meditation app, like “stop, breathe, think” or www.calm.com ❏ Find an example of someone giving back or helping others ❏ Laugh out loud at least twice a day, tell a joke, watch a funny movie ❏ Turn off the news ❏ Record how you are feeling using the Yale Mood Meter
Your Body	❏ Take a walk, go for a run, ride a bike ❏ Create a dance play list and dance, dance, dance – We Are Family! ❏ GoNoodle Indoor Recess ❏ YouTube: workouts, yoga or dance
Your Home	❏ Do a chore – vacuum, dishes, laundry ❏ Clean your room ❏ Put your things away
Your Creativity	❏ Learn something new ❏ Draw/paint ❏ Build with LEGO ❏ Learn Calligraphy or Hand Lettering ❏ Play an instrument ❏ Search Pinterest for “DIY” or “upcycle”
Your Community	❏ Follow CDC Guidelines – stay home and wash your hands ❏ Go through clothing and toys to donate ❏ Check out your community website for what is needed ❏ Make cards to send to a local nursing home, nurses, doctors
The Earth	❏ Go for walks and enjoy nature ❏ Plant something ❏ Pick up litter – wear gloves ❏ Find another use for something before you recycle it
Family, Friends, Neighbors	❏ Stay in touch with each other ❏ Connect on FaceTime calls ❏ Have dinners together over FaceTime, Skype, Zoom ❏ Call people instead of text, write a letter, draw a picture ❏ Make a photo book of memories with a service like shutterfly ❏ Cook something for your family, neighbors ❏ Ask if someone needs help

About the Author

NESCA’s Director of Consultation and Psychoeducational Services Dot Lucci has been active in the fields of education, psychology, research and academia for over 30 years. She is a national consultant and speaker on program design and the inclusion of children and adolescents with special needs, especially those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Prior to joining NESCA, Ms. Lucci was the Principal of the Partners Program/EDCO Collaborative and previously the Program Director and Director of Consultation at MGH/Aspire for 13 years, where she built child, teen and young adult programs and established the 3-Ss (self-awareness, social competency and stress management) as the programming backbone. She also served as director of the Autism Support Center. Ms. Lucci was previously an elementary classroom teacher, special educator, researcher, school psychologist, college professor and director of public schools, a private special education school and an education collaborative.

Ms. Lucci directs NESCA’s consultation services to public and private schools, colleges and universities, businesses and community agencies. She also provides psychoeducational counseling directly to students and parents. Ms. Lucci’s clinical interests include mind-body practices, positive psychology, and the use of technology and biofeedback devices in the instruction of social and emotional learning, especially as they apply to neurodiverse individuals.

To book a consultation with Ms. Lucci or one of our many expert neuropsychologists, complete NESCA’s online intake form. Indicate whether you are seeking an “evaluation” or “consultation” and your preferred clinician/consultant in the referral line.

Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children & Adolescents (NESCA) is a pediatric neuropsychology practice and integrative treatment center with offices in Newton, Massachusetts, Plainville, Massachusetts, and Londonderry, New Hampshire, serving clients from preschool through young adulthood and their families. For more information, please email info@nesca-newton.com or call 617-658-9800.

Good Ideas for Dogs are Good for People, Too

By | NESCA Notes 2020

By Dot Lucci, M.Ed., CAGS

Director of Consultation and Psychoeducational Services, NESCA

Play Every Day! — Play can promote calmness and reduce anxiety. This is true for adults and kids.
Play Is Learning — Reflect after play by creating and asking questions. Did you learn anything new? What surprised you? How did you feel before you played? How you feel now?
Walk, Walk, Walk! — Walking helps dogs stay engaged with the world and brains stimulated. Yup, works for humans, too.
Be Present While Walking — Go for walks with or without a dog. Feel the air blowing, smell the flowers, hear the birds singing, feel the rain on your face. Learn the bird calls, bring binoculars and look closely at the birds. Be present as you walk, laugh, sing, splash in puddles….
Game Play — Playing games can help satisfy natural instincts. Play old games, teach your children games you played as a child, learn new games. Any games will do – board, card, dice, movement, etc. Play skill games, games of chance or luck games, silly games, etc.
Feed Relationships Through Play and Exercise — Bond with each other (a child, a dog or both!) through playing or getting some exercise together. Be active together…teach new tricks, kick a ball around, play catch, take a yoga or Zumba class, watch GoNoodle as long as it’s together.
Be in gratitude that you are experiencing this time together to slow down and reconnect with each other. Laugh, play, sing and dance together. Love and care for each other. Enjoy each other.