Eight to Feel Great: Health and Wellness Tips for Students with Autism and LD

It only takes 8 minutes of our time to start having a great day!

 

How often do we wake up with no energy, feeling unrested, and not motivated to do all the things that we need to do each day? If you’re not a morning person, you definitely know what I am talking about.

 

How about your student? How are they when they wake up each morning and get ready for school? What if we took 8 minutes of our time to prepare ourselves for our day? Could those 8 minutes not only benefit us, our children and our families, and maybe even other people that we come in contact with that day?

 

I challenge you to try it for your student, your family and for yourself. See if this routine pre-frames you and yours to have a great day!

 

Importance of Hydration

Here is something to consider: While you are sleeping your body is using energy, depleting itself of nutrition and more importantly, hydration. The first thing we need to do when we wake up is rehydrating. The easiest way to do that is to drink 4 to 8 ounces of water, or about half a glass to a full glass.

 

The next most important thing is to get more oxygen and get your blood circulating. Stand up straight and take a few full breaths. Once you have taken care of your basic necessities, then make the time for you to feel better -- not just good, but great!

 

Getting Loose and Positive Affirmations

Spend the next 8 minutes of your day doing some loosening up exercises for all of the major joints in your body and then 2 sets of 8 each of the following exercises for your legs, arms, and core with some light stretching in between the two sets:

 

  • 8 Front Lunges - Legs
  • 8 Inclined Push-Ups - Arms
  • 8 Crunches - Core
  • Stretch

You can repeat the cycle above, or:
  • 8 Side Squats
  • 8 Dips
  • 8 Knee-Ups

Count out loud to make sure that you are breathing and say out loud, “I feel great!” at the end of each exercise. When you do this as a morning routine, not only does it prime your body for a great start to your day, but also pre-frames your mind to help you feel great.

 

Remember the basics of rehydrating and deeper breathing not only gives the body more energy, it feeds more oxygen to your brain as well. This is a great way to help build a strong body and a clear mind. Also, by using this positive affirmation of “I feel great!” you can change your own perspective and choose to feel great all day!

 

Now get up, hydrate, get moving and breathing, and have a great day!

About College Internship Program

The College Internship Program is a comprehensive transition program for young adults on the Autism Spectrum and with Learning Differences. Our Mission is to inspire independence and expand the foundation on which young adults with Autism, ADHD, and other Learning Differences can build happy and productive lives.