With summer now winding down – we can reflect on the memories of having fun: water slides at Elitch Gardens, basketball and kickball in the park, riding bikes and scooters around town and skateboarding. Every once in a while during those activities, you may twist an ankle or fall on an arm, which leads to a broken bone. As a doctor in Denver Health's Adult Urgent Care Center, I treat broken bones every day, year round – not just during the summer time.

After a long summer of lazy days and not-so-strict bedtimes, no homework and not having to pack lunches, going back to school can be a stressful time for both families and their students! Staying healthy is a major factor in a student's success at school, so here is a short checklist of what every family should talk about now that school is back in session.

“Relax!” “Calm down!” “Chill out!”

When you are stressed out, and you hear these words from co-workers, friends or family, have you ever noticed that they often do not have the intended effect? Your emotional experiences may stick around – whether they are anxiety, stress or irritability. You may even notice the opposite response when you attempt to “force” relaxation – you may become more tense, nervous or internally unsettled. While our intuition may tell us we need to do something to calm down, to suppress or avoid that internal experience – perhaps there is a better option.