Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Self regulation on the road this holiday

At ASHA Convention this past week (some recaps to come), I was happy to record another podcast conversation with JD Gray of ASHA Voices, this time on self-regulation. We touched on mindful apps SLPs can use for themselves and as language/self-regulation activities for our students, but I always like simple tricks too.


For example, since I got a car with bluetooth, this has offered me lots of enjoyment on the road (music, podcasts, etc). But have you noticed the annoying habit when bluetoothing or USB connecting of your radio blasting the first song on your music list? In my case, it was "Aaron Burr, Sir" from Hamilton. "Aa" puts it first alphabetically. It made me actually hate the song eventually, though I love the musical. Regular jarring annoyance was eliminated by a simple trick after researching this problem, which I discovered many friends shared. Go to your music or iTunes app and download the sure-to-be-alphabetically-first (well worth the $.99) "A a a a a Very Good Song." It's like 10 minutes of silence, so when you connect your phone to your car, now you will hear what was playing or blessed, calming silence. You'll thank yourself, and your passengers will too.

4 comments:

  1. This was an awesome podcast. Thanks for sharing that! Aluminum Extrusion China

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  2. Self-regulation on the road this holiday is crucial for ensuring safety and a stress-free journey. I always remind myself to stay patient, follow traffic rules, and avoid distractions while driving. Just like in ghostwriting online, where discipline and structure are key, responsible driving requires focus and self-control to reach the destination smoothly.

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  3. The challenge of Pips NYT is fair—it’s never impossible, but it always pushes me just enough. That balance makes it really rewarding to play. It’s tough, but not frustrating, which is exactly the kind of puzzle I enjoy.

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  4. Oh man, that Bluetooth blasting the first song is SO real! My car does the same thing and it's always some random track from years ago that I forgot was even on my phone. It's such a jarring way to start a drive, the opposite of self-regulation for sure. I've started making specific "calm drive" playlists with a gentle first song just to hack that issue, which is a tip I picked up from Pips Hint actually. Great point about using that moment as a teachable one for students too—talking about why that sudden noise feels overwhelming and what we can do to plan for it. Hope you had a great time at ASHA!

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