By: Courtney Reinfried, Library Media Specialist at Northern Valley Regional HS – Demarest

There is so much research out there to support the importance of taking time out during the day to take a deep breath, relax and de-stress. At Northern Valley Demarest, we’ve been considering the idea of varying furniture for some time now. After attending NJECC, I came back with further support for my ideas & information on where to get inexpensive bean bag chairs (thanks Elissa Malespina!). So, after getting a thumbs up from my VP and principal, my husband and I were off to Walmart to load these bean bag chairs into our car (in Norsemen blue of course!). The funding came from my Library Council account. The bean bags were $30 a piece, but I got them to price match the $25 online price. They’re the Big Joe Milano chair & my biggest recommendation would be to buy them in person, not online because some are not as well filled as others. Our de-stress area has 4 chairs, a table we borrowed from our Norsemen Nook, and a repurposed cart of drawers that holds coloring pages, the BELS coloring bookmarks, clipboards to lean on & colored pencils. The only thing we bought new was the chairs – everything else we repurposed, had on hand, or were able to find for free. The bookshelves behind this area have a display with books on healthy eating, exercise and reducing stress. We plan to use the area as a space for students to relax & take time away from homework. It will also help us make decisions for future furniture choices. Especially with midterms approaching next week, we will be promoting this space to our students!