Congratulations to all our students who have managed to continue to grow and flourish during the second Melbourne lockdown. The upcoming holidays are an excellent time to recharge our batteries and to see the world differently and slowly. For me, these holidays are like the slow-cooked lamb that we have on a Sunday, slow to cook and spectacular to eat. Take each day as a gift to recharge and not be distracted by the noise in our lives.

Six Tips for a Healthy Headspace

Adapted from: https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/headspace-day-2019-healthy-headspace-action-plan-WEB.pdf

1. Get in to life Keep doing the stuff you love to do and the things that are important to you. It can help keep the fun in your life, give you a sense of accomplishment and purpose, boost your confidence and help to connect with others. Some of these things, such as drawing, cycling or playing the guitar, might just be for fun. Now is the time to try something from our past we loved to do.
2. Learn skills for tough times There are a lot of different strategies that can help you to manage difficult thoughts and feelings. Things like meditation, taking a digital detox, listening to music, and spending time outdoors are just a few ways that can help you handle this holiday. You could try out some meditation with a soothing playlist, or some guided deep breathing to help or mindful walking.
3. Create Connections Feeling connected to others is an essential part of being human. Spending time with friends, family and people can really strengthen your mental health and wellbeing. Planning a catch-up can help you feel connected and meet new people. The digital conversation cards might inspire you to connect further with friends, family or people in your community. Create family evenings with a twist – Viewing the AFL matches and decorating your house like the MCG or Socktober Theme afternoon tea.
4. Eat well When you think of improving your mental health, you may not always consider changing the food you eat. But there is a strong link between what we eat and how we feel! A poor diet can make you feel sluggish, low and increase symptoms of depression and anxiety. But staying hydrated and having a healthy diet with a variety of fruit, veggies, nuts and wholegrains can actually improve mental health. You could try as a family that each person is assigned a night to cook their favourite dish.
5. Stay Active Staying active can help you to sleep better, manage stress and boost your mood. Find a way to keep active that you enjoy; even l’m managing to walk 15,000 steps a day. I am amazed how many different things l notice now when l walk around the streets of home. Make time to kick a ball around with family or create a Karaoke playlist or just going for a walk. Whatever it is, start small, and make sure it’s something you enjoy.
6. Get Enough Sleep Sleep is good for your brain and body. It improves your mood, sharpens your concentration and increases resilience. Reducing things that keep you from restful sleep – like noise or light that keeps you awake, or active stuff like social media or video gaming – will help you improve your sleep.

These holidays are a gift to stop, breathe and smell the Spring blossoms.

Steven Mifsud - Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing