How Right Now Encourages Us to Take 10-15 on 10/15

Taking care of yourself during the pandemic means taking time for yourself, so as the calendar turns to 10/15, the CDC Foundation and its mental-wellness partner How Right Now are encouraging everyone to take a 10-15 minute break for a spot of self-care. With the COVID-19 crisis continuing to create stress, anxiety and sadness in our lives, How Right Now’s mission to improve emotional resiliency and offer coping skills moves forward with a new initiative tied to this October date.

How Right Now recommends spending 10 to 15 minutes on October 15th taking a walk outdoors, calling, texting or video chatting with friends or family or even taking a dance break. There are many more short stress-relieving suggestions, in both English and Spanish, on their website HowRightNow.org.

“We're bringing together How Right Now partners—including local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations, online influencers, and more—for one day to promote all the quick, actionable steps people can take to help improve their mental health and emotional well-being during this time,” says Amelia Burke-Garcia, PhD, MA, program area director at NORC at the University of Chicago.

In addition to the CDC Foundation, supporters of the initiative include celebrities like Jaime King, Lance Bass, Omari Hardwick and Kris Jenner, who recently shared this post on Facebook: “It can be a challenge to cope with changing routines and anxiety during #COVID19. But we’ve got this. There is a way forward, and you are not alone! Visit #HowRightNow for ways that people are finding what helps: HowRightNow.org"

Among the ideas offered for your 10 to 15-minute break on 10/15:

• Write down three things you are grateful for today.
• Take a break from the news today… watch or listen to something fun.
• Laugh! Think of someone who makes you laugh or the last time you laughed so hard you cried.
• Find an inspiring song or quote and write it down (or screenshot it) so you have it nearby.