EQ Weather Report

Happy Take Care Tuesday!

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? Given that our position and program considers emotions as the biggest driver of success, we're joining the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Now more than ever, it's important that no one feels alone. With all of the physical distancing and the uncertainty (here's looking at you COVID-19), the climate is ripe for having big feels that can overwhelm even the most grounded person. 

Tip #13: Get help when you need it

Almost 450 million people worldwide live with a mental illness, yet only a third of these people seek treatment. A huge stigma associated with mental health exists. Some of our tips before this one (healthy routines, connecting with others, helping others, finding the positive) help to increase a person's resiliency, especially during COVID-19. But even when using all of these tools, emotions can still feel big and overwhelming, causing distress...

For this week’s Friday Feature, we’re proud to focus on one of the sponsors who has made it possible for VUSD students to access Odyssey’s emotional intelligence (EQ) curriculum. Join us for a one-on-one chit chat with Olga Kubrak, founder and owner of Olga Kubrak Photography.

What is Olga Kubrak Photography?

Olga Kubrak Photography is a full-service photographer based in San Diego and servicing all of South California. We specialize in capturing lifestyle portraits as well as epic weddings. Natural light photography is our jam but we also offer studio newborn and milestone portraits for our littlest clients. All clients have access to a range of spectacular print products as well as digital packages. 

Why did you decide to promote student EQ growth through Odyssey?

The self growth that is acquired through emotional intelligence and emotional learning is extremely rewarding. Both of these aspects contribute to better communication between...

How are you?

Happy Take Care Tuesday! How are you doing?

Many of us have been adhering to stay-at-home orders for almost 9 weeks and we're all itching to have the freedom to roam wherever our hearts desire. Unfortunately, with COVID-19 still a serious threat, there is no firm date on when all restrictions will be lifted. Things in the world have changed so much, it has us questioning if we'll ever return to the normal that we once knew. It's no surprise that this situation brings on major feelz (um, understatement!), and without an end date to contain these feelings, how do we deal? 

Tip #12: Find the lesson

We hope that the 11 tips before this one have helped you in some way. While going easy on yourself, staying socially (vs. physically) connected, jammin' to music, exercising, and practicing gratitude are all actions that can calm a person's feelings and thoughts when worried, frustrated, or anxious, sometimes it just isn't enough.

You can try nudging your...

Thank you, Teachers!!

It's that time of the year where we intentionally take a moment to thank some of the biggest influencers in our child's life...teachers! With schools closed and virtual learning in full swing, teachers have had to make some fast and hard pivots to continue teaching their students and we couldn't be more grateful for their continued care and commitment.

"The influence of a good teacher can never be erased"

Traditionally, little tokens of appreciation, lunches, and flowers flood into classrooms this week. But that's not happening this year because, well...COVID-19. Let's not let physical distancing spoil the fun. Here are some ways you can safely and creatively show your appreciation for all of the hard work and dedication teachers put in year-round. Oh, and let's not forget about all of the other people that make school a wonderful place (here's looking at you administrators, office staff, custodial staff, and support staff). 

Monday 

Have your...

Welcome back to our SEL spotlight series! It's our Friday Feature, where we're going to feature something cool on you guessed it, Fridays! 

If you've missed the first 2 posts in this series where we define what SEL and self-awareness are, we encourage you to go back and take a quick peek. 

The purpose of this is series is to create a strong foundation of understanding. We're banking on the fact that the more you know about SEL, the more engaged you'll be in strengthening your and/or your child's social-emotional skills. While we know that knowing and doing are very different things, knowing is half the battle (here's lookin' at you, Gen X'ers). 

Self-Management

Hopefully, you remember that SEL is comprised of 5 five core competencies (no big deal if you didn't...that's what we're here for). Today, we'll be exploring one of the five core competencies, self-management. 

Self-management vibes off of self-awareness and can take things into...

How are things? 

We hope that this post finds you with some sense of joy. We're not greedy, we're happy even if that feeling of joy is an itty bitty sliver. Bottom line, we care about you and hope that you have some good feels. 

Tip #11: Practice gratitude

This novel corona virus has done a real number on us. With things so uncertain, we can feel powerless. When we feel this way, it helps to focus on what we can control. We've covered one way to do this in Tip#9 and have another one for you. Get grateful. Identifying what we are grateful for helps to keep us in the present moment, which is a key factor to keeping anxiety at bay since it thrives on fear and speculation (yeah, we're looking at you COVID-19). When we can focus on what is good in our lives and what we can control, we stay grounded in the present and we worry less and feel better. 

If you haven't developed a gratitude practice, consider starting one. Don't be intimidated by it. It can...

How have you been?

Hey, there! How are you doing? Looks like things are gonna be this way for at least a few more weeks. Have you found your groove?

In this series, we're supporting everyone to make the most of their current situation. While we can't know what challenges everyone is facing right now, what we do know is that you are strong, resilient, and resourceful. We don't have to look far to find stories of human ingenuity, acts of kindness, and solidarity. 

COVID-19 has singlehandedly changed the way we work and learn. Now, we're all seated for most of the day in front of a screen (no, changing your virtual zoom background does not count as moving). We all know that staying active under normal circumstances is good for our health, mood, sleep, stress management, and overall wellbeing. If there was ever a time to develop a daily routine of movement, that time is definitely now. 

Tip #10: Get moving

So, no gyms are open, your favorite trails are closed,...

Welcome back to our SEL spotlight series!

We started this series by defining what SEL is. If you missed it, check it out here (we promise it's a quick read). Today, we're going to take a deeper dive into one of the five domains of social-emotional learning, self-awareness.  

What is Self-Awareness?

Self-awareness is the ability to see and understand ourselves. With self-awareness, you can answer questions about what you believe, how you feel, and how you behave because you can recognize your own emotions and thoughts. With guidance and attention, you can even connect the dots between your emotions and how they influence your behavior. 

So what?

Being able to focus our attention on our inner selves is a critical skill. Our ability to self-reflect lays the groundwork for the way we evaluate our behavior and make decisions. When we cultivate this skill (read, needs conscious effort and practice), we have the potential for more self-control, better...

You good?

Just checking in. How are you doing? 

Many of us are moving into week 4 of hunkering down at home with no clear word on how long this is going to last. Logically, we tune into the news to get updates and then are bombarded with curve lines, news of PPE shortages, and infection rates. On top of juggling WFM, teaching our kiddos, and putting something reasonably nutritious on the table, are these news updates just too much? 

Tip #9: Turn off the news

OK, you don't have to turn it off completely, but be mindful about how often you are getting the news. Our mind follows our attention, so if we have the news constantly running in the background or we're binge-watching news conferences, we're directing our minds to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, and thus adding to anxiety levels that are already high. Instead, consume the news in moderation and choose reputable sources (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, CDC). We...

You know that giddy feeling you get when you're in a new relationship? *swoon*  We're feeling that way right now about our new partnership with Vista Unified School District (VUSD). We're absolutely thrilled to provide district-wide support and empower thousands of elementary students with life-changing emotional habits!

Just what you need when you unexpectedly became a teacher

VUSD has done an amazing job launching a brand new Virtual School in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling over 22,000 students to continue their education from their homes. But that also means a lot of parents playing makeshift teacher, often while juggling a new work-from-home environment, or leaving the kids home alone if they have to go to work. As if parenting wasn't already hard enough before coronageddon! The school counselors are just a phone call or email away to meet student social-emotional needs, and now parents also have Odyssey in their...