Practicing Mindfulness with Our Teens - Zoom Busters Part 4

ZOOM BUSTERS FINALE

I’ve spent the past four weeks immersed in the Zoom Busters my friend, Kellye Abernathy, created for us. These stretching and breathing exercises have helped me as I’ve spent hours at my computer. They’ve also got me thinking about what it means to be focused and present in the moment.

YOU’RE GONNA BE IN THE MOMENT - OR THE REST OF THE MAP GETS IT!

My all-time favorite TV series is The Gilmore Girls. Because we just dropped my son off at college a month ago, one of the episodes that’s been on my mind is the one where Lorelai helps Rory move into her dorm room at Yale.

If you’re not familiar with the show, Rory is a high-achieving, conscientious student. I’m remembering an episode when she is stressing out about all. the. things. as she walks into her dorm room, studying a campus map.

Lorelai, her mother, stops her, turns her around, and marches her out of the suite, saying, “All right. You just missed it! Walking into your dorm suite for the first time. Do over!” She pushes her out the door, declaring, “You’re gonna be in the moment. You’re gonna be in the moment! Or the rest of the map gets it!”

They go through the space again, after which Rory hugs Lorelai and thanks her for forcing her to be in the moment. “It’s something I would not have wanted to miss.”

Lorelai, being the savvy Mom she is, thanks Rory for “pretending that you’re not worried about all. the. things.”

REMINDING TEENS TO BE MINDFUL

I’m bringing this up because sometimes our teens have to be reminded to be mindful. To live in the moment and take in all the things around them.

I know I’ve said this before in other episodes, but one of my biggest surprises in parenting my teens has been in NOT having to stay on them to do homework, be responsible, make sure they’re taking care of all the things. It’s been the opposite – helping them manage anxiety, trying to help them see the bigger picture, forcing them to take mental health breaks. To not miss the moments.

I realize that may be a different struggle than some of you have, but I think the mindfulness issue manifests in a lot of different ways. Whether your teens aren’t mindful because they’re so stressed, or they’re not mindful because they’ve tuned out the world to focus on their screens, it’s still the same coin.

ZOOM BUSTERS AND MINDFULNESS

Researchers have found that mindfulness practice improves well-being, physical health, and mental health. And as one of the grown-ups in your teens’ lives, it’s a really good idea to be intentional about being mindful. Not just modeling it, but doing things like what Lorelai did, and literally forcing them to be. in. the. moment.

That’s one of the things Kellye Abernathy is helping us do in today’s episode. This is the last episode in a 4-part series where Kellye is walking us through several sets of Zoom Busters.

MY FAVORITE ZOOM BUSTERS SET

All of the Zoom Busters are great for helping students reset and refocus, and of course, practice mindfulness. Not just mind-body awareness, but also being aware of their surroundings and experiences in the moment.

But out of all of them, I think the last one – the 6th Zoom Buster – is my favorite. In this one, Kellye guides us through a sensory meditation focusing on all 5 senses.

Not surprisingly, it’s also a great way to help them practice mindfulness.

FREE ZOOM BUSTERS RESOURCES FOR YOU

Kellye designed these Zoom Busters to be used individually, for shorter 3-5minute breaks, or consecutively, for a longer stretching session. If you’d like to use them with your students, sure to check out the videos we created for the Zoom Buster Posture Set-Up and all 6 Sets.

There is also a free Zoom Busters PDF you can download. You can use the Cues to guide your students through all the Zoom Busters – or you can use them for yourself! I know we’re all in front of our computer screens for longer periods of time these days. They really are great for helping all of us reset and refocus – not just our teens.

THANKS FOR THE ZOOM BUSTERS, KELLYE!

Before closing out this series, I have to give a big shout out to Kellye Abernathy. Thank you so much, Kellye, for all the time and effort you put into designing these Zoom Busters for the In the Middle of It podcast!