Friday, January 21, 2011

Bullying Is Wrong!

What can you do if someone is bullying you?

Being bullied is embarrassing, scary and  hurtful, but you should know that you don't have to put up with being bullied. It is NOT a normal part of growing up. Bullying is wrong. Bullying is a learned behvior, that means it is something we can change and there are things we can do to deal with bullying. Here are some things we all can do to stop bullying:

·         Learn about what bullying is and then share this with others, such as your parents, friends, teachers, sport coaches and others. A lot of adults believe that bullying is just a normal part of life, IT'S NOT -BE the change! And teach them that people should not just accept bullying.
·         Take the Bullying.org and Family Channel Pledge
·         You need to know that you are NOT alone in being bullied. Being bullied is embarrassing, scary and hurtful, it is normal to feel scared if you are being bullied, but being bullied is NOT normal and you shouldn't have to live with being bullied!
·       You need to know that being bullied is NOT your fault. Bullies might tell you mean things about yourself, but don't believe them. Bullies will say what ever they can to try and have power over you. Don't let them!
  • Tell an adult. If you are being bullied, it's very important to tell an adult. It's really hard to stop bullying by yourself. Parents, teachers, principals, sport coaches, Guide and Scout leaders can all help to stop bullying.
  • Write down what happened Who was bullying? Where did it happen? Who did what? Who saw it?
  • Telling is not tattling. Telling we do to help make things safer and better. Tattling is what people do when they want to get someone else in trouble on purpose.
  • Be brave When you're scared of another person, it's hard to be brave. But sometimes just acting brave is enough to stop a bully. If you act as though you're not afraid, it may be enough for a people who bully  to leave you alone.
  • Stay calm and don't act upset or angry: bullies love to get a reaction. Practice what you'll do and say the next time it happens. If you don't act upset or react the way they want you to, they may get bored and stop.
  • Ignore the people who bully. Try to ignore a bully's threats. If you can walk away, it takes a bullies power away because they want you to feel bad about yourself. Don't react. Don't let the people who bully  win!
  • If ignoring them won't work, tell the people who are bullying to stop, say "Cut it out!", "That's not funny!", "How'd you like it if someone did that to you?" Let the people who bully know that what he or she is doing is stupid and mean.  
  • Stand up, don't stand back Kids can stand up for each other by telling a people who bully to stop teasing or hurting someone else. You shouldn't try and fight the people who bully  . This almost always makes things worse. Walk up to the person being bullied, talk with them and then walk away together.
  • Refuse to join in and don't just sit back and watch. The bully wants an audience. You give bullies power when you watch. If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
  • Be a friend Kids who are being bullied can sure use a friend.  Walk with a friend or two on the way to school or recess or lunch or wherever you think you might meet the bully. Offer to do the same for someone else who's having trouble with a bully. Look out for kids who are new to school, or those kids who always seem to be alone.
  • Join a club, a team, or a group This is a great way to make new friends. This really helps when you are new to school.
  • Don't fight back First of all it's a dangerous thing to. Secondly, it usually makes things worse for everyone. Besides, you can't bully a bully into changing the way they are acting. Stay with others, stay safe, and get help from an adult.
  • Sit or walk near an adult or friend Sit near the bus driver. Walk with a teacher or friend during recess or lunchtime.
  • Take a different path to and from school
  • What Can Be Done about Bullying? An Anti-bullying Toolkit for Kids
  • Leave at different time
  • Don't bring expensive stuff to school
  • Share your story, find help, support and information on this Web site.
  • Make sure the kid who's being bullied tells an adult. Offer to go with them if it will help.
  • If they don't want to talk to anybody, offer to talk to someone for them.
  • Involve as many people as possible, including other friends or classmates, parents, teachers, school counselors, and the principal.

Remember:
Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Stand up for someone when he or she needs it, and when you need it, someone will stand up for you.  Everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others! For more information please visit- 
http://www.bullying.org/

Friday, January 14, 2011

Beating the Winter Blahs

So winter is here and has come with a bang for most of us. If your one of those that has been hit with the "bang" then the list below may help pass the time that you may be fighting the "blahs". I hope it helps and just remember Spring is just around the corner.

  1. Exercise 
     Exercise isn’t only for maintaining your weight and staying healthy. It’s great for relieving the stresses of life. Plus, the effects of a good workout can last for several hours. You’ll have more energy throughout the day, and your metabolism will stay elevated as well. Exercise also helps your mind by releasing those "feel good chemicals" that improve your mood. 
     
  2. Eat a Healthy Diet 
    What and when you eat has a great affect on your mood and energy. Avoid refined and processed foods (like white breads, rice, and sugar). These foods are not only devoid of the nutrients your body craves, but they zap your energy levels and can affect your mood—causing depression, lack of concentration, and mood swings. Try to incorporate more complex carbohydrates (whole wheat breads, brown rice, veggies, fruit) and get your daily 8 cups of water. These healthy foods provide your body (and mind) with nutrients, and stabilize your blood sugar and your energy levels. 
     
  3. Get Sun 
    Most people know that sunlight provides us with Vitamin D. But did you know that it also improves your mood? Winter days are shorter and darker than other months, and because of the cold weather, a lot of people spend less and less time outdoors. Lack of sunlight can cause many people to become depressed—without knowing why! Similar to exercise, sunlight exposure releases neurotransmitters in the brain that affect mood. Try to spend a little more time outdoors.  Keep your shades up during the day to let more light in. Sit near windows in restaurants and during class. Try changing the light bulbs in your house to "full spectrum" bulbs. These mimic natural light and actually have the same affects on your mind as the real thing.And lastly as my mama would say, "Get outside". 
     
  4. Act on your Resolutions 
    A recent studies show that acting on the resolutions you set for your self can help causing you to feel as if you have accomplished what you set out to accomplish. Therefore,helping keep the depression factor away.
     
  5. Avoid Binge Drinking 
    Staying in with a cold beer or a nice glass of wine may seem like the only thing to do in the winter months, and many people who feel down also tend to turn to alcohol when they’re feeling down. But alcohol is actually a depressant, and rather than improving your mood, it only makes it worse. Avoiding alcohol when you are already depressed is a good idea. Moderate drinking is fine for most people, but binge drinking (defined as having 5 or more drinks in one sitting) is never a healthy choice. 
     
  6. Treat Yourself 
    Having something to look forward to can keep anyone motivated. Winter seems endless! But if you plan something exciting, your mood improves when you’re anticipating it and when the event actually comes. Plan something that’s exciting to you—a weekend trip, a day at the spa, a party (but keep #5 above in mind), or special event like a play, girls (or guys) night out, or sporting event. For all my 'Castle' fans out there, plan a marathon with a friend. Watching our favorite crime solving couple always improves my mood. How about yours?
     
  7. Relax! 
    You’re busy! Work, class, family, friends, appointments, meetings—even if you enjoy being busy, everyone needs some time off. Don’t be afraid to say "No" to extra opportunities (covering a shift for a co-worker, bringing food to your son’s class party). Try to spend a few minutes each day doing nothing! Read a book or magazine, sleep in on the weekend, go to bed early, try some meditations, or take a yoga class. Relaxation, especially in the form of yoga, can alleviate stress and leave you with a calm energy. Mental exercises like meditation and positive thinking can help keep depression at bay. 
     
  8. Embrace the Season 
    Instead of always avoiding the cold and the snow—look for the best that it has to offer! Take up a winter sport like ice skating, snowboarding, hockey, or even sledding! Enjoy these opportunities while they last—after all, they’re only here a few months per year. Staying active will boost your energy. Seeing winter in a positive light, with all the fun activities that it has to offer, will keep your spirits high. 
     
  9. Get Social Support 
    Don’t underestimate the power of friends, family, mentors, co-workers, and neighbors. Who can you turn to when you’re down and need a pick-me-up? Keep a mental list of these special people and don’t be afraid to ask for help or encouragement when you need it. Something as simple as a phone call, a chat over coffee, or a nice email or letter can brighten your mood. And lastly let us not forget one of our favorite places...Twitter! Finding like-minded people can help as well. Talking about your projects your working on can also take your mind off of the dreary weather. 
     
  10. Catch some Zzzz’s 
    People naturally want to sleep a little bit more during the winter. But with all we have going on, sometimes sleep is the first thing to go. With a little time management, and some self-discipline, you can meet your shut-eye needs. Aim for 7-8 hours each night, and try to keep your bedtime and waking time consistent. That way, your sleeping patterns can normalize and you’ll have more energy. Try not to oversleep—those 12-hour snoozes on the weekend can actually make you MORE tired. Don’t forget naps! A short (10-30 minute) afternoon nap may be all you need to re-energize midday
So there are some ways to help keep the "blahs" away. I hope they help you and if you have anything you would like to add to the list, please do so in the comment section.I would love to hear them. Thanks.