In the moment, when our stress loads are too high or in the face of explosive or inappropriate behaviour, we often look for a quick fix. The hope is that a quick fix can bring calm, can bring balance, be a teaching opportunity or even punish so that we can move beyond.
In come strategies.
Many of us figure out our own strategies, even for before we reach out peak, like yoga, listening to music, fidgets or talking to a friend. We’ve all been told (or have told others) to take a time out, to do a breathing exercise, to take a nap, or to walk away. And sometimes it works. This week we challenge you to dive deeper, reframing strategies, as they are not always a one-size-fits-all approach to self-regulation.
Today’s Question:
How can Self-Reg help us find the right strategy at the right time?
In the comments below, share a Self-Reg strategy that works for you or those in your care. Explore when it works best vs. when it doesn’t quite do the trick.
Continue the Learning & Explore Strategies
- We Are The Strategy: Co-Regulation with Dysregulated Kids at the Self-Reg Summer Symposium
- Self-Reg Misconception “I can teach Self-Reg with a One-Size-Fits-All approach” video
- Good Stress Gone Bad: Conditions in Transforming Stress from Negative to Positive
- Self-Reg Reset: My Goal For This Year’s Symposium
- Self-Reg Foundations Certificate Program
- Self-Reg in Early Childhood Development
Practising Self- Reg is the Strategy for me. There is not one singular practise, but Self-Reg is the strategy itself.
It means using the knowledge about Self-Reg brain/body balance to respond in a flexible manner depending on the situation.
I find that “Reframe” is becoming automatic (unless I’m completely in red/ gray brain).
The response or the step after “Reframe”, recognising the situation as a stress situation, depends on the situation itself.
It sometimes means I start with “Recognise” and look for the stressors. Sometimes I go from “Reframe” straight to “Restore” practises.
Concrete practices depend whether my personal life or family life is affected or I’m at work and I’m co-regulating with children.
I also noticed that when I’m in “bottom right” with my energy levels (low energy-high tension) I have to be more intentional with my personal Self-Reg, and I can’t co-regulate when I’m in low energy-high tension.
Deep breathing is always a good quick help for me personally to get blue brain connection restored.
Sometimes when the situation gets intense, it is more reflective practise, and “soft eyes” that helps for next time.