Here are some predictions of lifestyle trends resulting from the September 11 attacks:

Advertising Age magazine reports that Hasbro is inducing adults to get together during the holiday season.

The toy giant’s games division is launching its largest-ever push aimed at adults this fall, with a multimillion-dollar campaign backing its board and parlor games. Hasbro Games plans at least 10 ads the holiday season. Three spots will support “get together” games including Taboo, Trivial Pursuit and Scattergories, and will target women-the primary purchasers of board games-by showing men amusing themselves with inane activities including hula dolls, party horns and catnip.

Industry analysts maintain that a jittery public will retreat into the comforts of home with such products as bigscreen TV’s and DVD rentals. The launch of the RCA Scenium sub-brand marks a play by Thomson Multimedia to sell its advanced digital consumer electronics products to upscale consumers and early adopters who don’t mind shelling out the cash for high-end projection and high-definition TV’s, plasma monitors and other next-generation display products.

Craft and creative activities will also provide stimulation and family interactivity this holiday season as ‘quality time’ turns into an opportunity to make personal gifts for family and friends.

HFNmagazine sees our source of comfort turning toward home. Products that offer comfort and a sense of continuity are more appealing to many these day than the latest “hot thing”. Cuddly textiles, products that have a handmade look and soothing scents are some of the reassuring things that are going to be enjoying great popularity.

Furniture manufacturers are returning to home and hearth this season in two major ways. First, a revisiting of classic American styles from a modern perspective, found in such collections as American Portfolio at Hickory Chair and Urban Home at Drexel Heritage. Sources such as American Drew are reinterpreting Mission and Shaker themes, Broyhill is returning to the countryside with the new Attic Heirlooms series and Bassett is updating country pine in Eclipse.

Second, home furnishings sources are exploring the bucolic comforts of the outdoors. Thomasville returns to its popular Ernest Hemingway Home Furnishings collection. Anticipating a return to entertaining as Americans look homeward, Bassett and Hooker are among the case-goods companies touting entertainment centers at this market.

Transforming Tomorrow

The trauma of September 11 has impacted our lives in unforeseen and unrecognized ways. Keeping your brain working on tasks is one way to work through the ‘dullness’ of days many find themselves experiencing. Here are two ways to get your brain working again:

1. Take a Brain Break

   Instead of grabbing that extra cup of coffee for a break, take a walk. It’s better to grab a few associates and walk together. A brisk fifteen-minute walk outdoors invigorates the body, clears the mind, and opens the door to real-world sensory stimulation. The interaction with co-workers will allow all to express their thoughts, and concerns in a community environment which is important in times of trauma and stress.

2. On-going Chess Game

   Leave a chessboard in an often-used community area of your office. Employees can come to the board, assess the situation, and make a move. There will be no known players, no winners, no losers. While this won’t allow for the development of long-term strategy, it will facilitate visual-spatial thinking that is different from what most of us do on a regular basis at work. It provides a break from verbal, left-brain activities and let’s the other side of the brain get energized and recharged.

Published: November 5, 2001

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Kathy Lamancusa is a trend strategis, professional speaker and author who tracks the forces that impact our lives. Over 1.6 million copies of Kathy's books are in print, and she has appeared on numerous television and radio shows including Oprah! She is a public speaker who can offer organizations entertaining and enlightening peeks into what is coming and what is shaping change so that they can better reach their own customer bases.