Soothe Before the Season

The holidays are coming soon, and with them often come busy schedules and extra stress. Before the hustle begins, take this Sunday to slow down and soothe before the season.

🏡 Create Calm Spaces

Pick one small area in your home that feels cluttered or messy. Spend ten minutes tidying or organizing it together as a family. A little order can make a big difference in how everyone feels.

💭 Take a Mindful Moment

Pause for five minutes to breathe deeply, stretch, or sit quietly. Try this quick grounding activity: name one thing you can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste. It helps reset your mind when things feel overwhelming.

🕯️ Embrace Cozy Connection

Light a candle, make a warm drink, and turn on calming music. Talk about what everyone is looking forward to this holiday season and what matters most to your family.

This week, give yourself permission to slow down before the season speeds up. The holidays will feel more meaningful when you start from a place of calm.

👻 Ghost Your Stress

Happy Halloween! It’s time to ghost your stress and take care of your well-being.

Life can get busy for both teens and parents. Between school, work, sports, and daily responsibilities, stress can sneak up and drain your energy before you even notice. The good news is that you can take small steps to make it disappear and build resilience together as a family.

Notice What’s Causing Stress

Take a moment to check in with yourself and your family. What’s been feeling overwhelming lately? Talking openly about what’s creating stress helps everyone feel supported and less alone.

Get Moving

Physical activity is one of the best ways to shake off stress. Go for a family walk, play a game outside, or turn on some music and dance around the living room. Moving together helps release tension and boosts everyone’s mood.

Take Time to Recharge

It’s easy to forget to rest when schedules are full. Make space for quiet moments—read a book, have a no-screen night, or enjoy a cozy movie together. Recharging helps you handle challenges with more patience and calm.

Build Family Resilience

Strong families bounce back together. Try setting small goals, sharing daily gratitude, or finding positive ways to handle challenges. Encourage each other to take breaks, stay kind, and focus on what you can control.

Stress may try to haunt 👻 your family from time to time, but with a few simple habits, you can ghost it for good.

👻 Find more wellness and prevention resources at www.standupaj.org

🧙Witch’s Brew & Wellness Night

Halloween doesn’t have to be all about candy and jump scares. This weekend, try a little feel-good family magic with a Witch’s Brew & Wellness Night. This is a fun way to mix creativity, connection, and self-care right at home.

🍵 Step 1: Gather Your “Potion” Supplies

Set up a mini drink bar so everyone can make their own brew. Think hot cocoa, apple cider, smoothies, or even sparkling water with fun mix-ins. Add a few spooky touches like gummy worms, cinnamon sticks, or colored straws.

Then have everyone name their drink, maybe Calm Cauldron Cocoa, Confidence Potion, or Laughing Lemonade.

💬 Step 2: Add a Dash of Meaning

As everyone adds their ingredients, have them say what each one stands for.

-Strawberries = love

-Honey = kindness

-Chocolate = comfort

-Mint = energy

It’s a silly but sweet way to talk about emotions and what helps everyone feel good.

🌙 Step 3: Sip & Share

Once your brews are mixed, sit together and chat. Ask things like:

What makes you feel calm when you’re stressed?

What helps you feel brave?

What’s something kind you did for yourself this week? Etc

🕯️ Step 4: Cast a Family “Wellness Spell”

End the night by writing a short “spell” together. Something simple like:

“We stir up calm, laughter, and love — and keep them close all week long.”

Hang it on the fridge or keep it somewhere you’ll see it.

l

Why it works:

This little ritual helps everyone slow down, connect, and talk about feelings in a way that’s fun and easy. Plus, it’s screen-free and perfect for a chill night in before the Halloween chaos kicks in.