MASK The Magazine Summer 2020

What is health, and what does “being healthy” mean? I think as a society we directly relate health to food, fitness and, honestly, appearance. Is it about being vegan, going gluten-free, intermittent fasting, working out every day of the week, or staying hooked on the latest diet trend? What drives us to be healthy? Is it for self or is it a desire to be accepted? If we are just focused on the physical side of health, we are missing a huge part of wellness. Mental health alone is a large component of “being healthy”, and one that is often overlooked. In today’s world, mind, body and spirit are getting hijacked and are becoming influenced by what the social networks project and want us to believe. Unfortunately, this can feed us…

Parenting Solutions for Today’s Families Do you want to be well-equipped with the appropriate knowledge, resources and tools that will empower you to make healthy and informed decisions for your family? If so, subscribe to MASK The Magazine today! For only $24 a year, you’ll receive four issues of the award-winning MASK The Magazine delivered conveniently to your door. Or, for only $12 a year, download MASK The Magazine to your iPad or iPhone. For information: visit maskmatters.org or call 480-502-5337 ON THE GO Download our digital edition to your iPad or iPhone. Visit zinio.com to subscribe today! SUBSCRIPTION FORM 􀁒 One year (4 issues, $24) 􀁒 Two years (8 issues, $48) 􀁒 Three years (12 issues, $72) 􀁒 Check (Payable to MASK) 􀁒 Credit Card (We’ll call you for the info) 􀁒 Bill me! PLEASE MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: MASK 8937 E.…

MASK (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization created in 2007 by a group of dedicated mothers who recognized the need to consistently educate families on rapidly-changing issues. The MASK mission is to engage and educate parents, children and the community about the issues facing youth and to empower children to make safe, healthy choices. MASK strives to help children learn invaluable life skills for how to cope with a number of issues. In today’s viral and social media world, coping skills are more necessary than ever. MASK gives students tools for how to handle many issues, including responding to peer pressure, technology-related challenges, refusal skills, emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, self-esteem and setting boundaries. Today, suicide rates are at an all-time high and social media is influencing our…

Having a child is a full-time job with no sick days, no paid time off, and no vacation time. Sometimes, it can feel like we need more than 24 hours in a day. We couldn’t get to everything on our to-do list, and we had to skip our workout…again. A calendar is useful to keep track of all you need to accomplish. Unfortunately, going to the gym is usually the first thing people are willing to cross off their calendar when they are feeling overwhelmed. However, the Mayo Clinic suggests that even the most minimal amount of exercise or physical activity is better than nothing. Even if you can’t physically make it to the gym, there are some very simple things you can do to get some exercise while doing…

1 Take a breath. When we get anxious or stressed, our bodies often go into fight or flight mode, and our breathing gets quick and shallow. Slowing your breathing sends the message to the rest of your body that you don’t need to prepare for battle. Try inhaling to the count of four, pause, then exhale to the count of four, and repeat four to 10 times. 2 Scan your body. We often hold anxiety in our muscles, especially our forehead, jaw, shoulders and stomach. When you notice increased feelings of anxiety, take a moment to scan your body, head to toe. Where do you notice feelings of tightness? As you notice tension, exhale and let those muscles relax. You can do this on the go or combine this exercise with…

DRUG Health Day warns that the summer months of June and July, more than any other time of year, are peak times for kids to start using drugs and drinking alcohol. This is likely due to the fact that they have more free time since they are not in school, or from being left home alone while their parents are at work. So be extra vigilant during summer break. BULLY With kids on summer vacation, their bullying issues may ease up a bit. But it’s a good idea to check your child’s social media to be sure the bullies aren’t following them home through their phone. If the bullies can’t reach them at school they will look for another way. TECH Kids will be spending a lot more time at home during summer, which means…