Well with Alice

The M is for... Mindfulness!

Mindfulness is about being fully present in the moment. It's about paying attention to what is happening around you and within you without judging your thoughts, feelings or the events that take place.

Often we live mindlessly, when we operate on autopilot. For example, you may find that you have finished a whole packet of chips in front of the TV without actually noticing the taste.

We also often ruminate about the past or worry about the future, which may make us feel sad or stressed.

Practicing mindfulness means training yourself to focus. It aids stress relief and enhances relationships and mental health.

Here are some ideas to practice mindfulness:

-Guided breathing - there are lots of breathwork and meditation apps out there. I personally really like Balance, which is free for 1 year.

-Take a moment to check in with yourself. Ask yourself: "What am I feeling right now? Am I holding any tension in my body? What have my thoughts been focused on?"

-Slow down when you eat and experience your food fully

-Engage your senses: name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste.

-Alternatively, be really quiet and list all the sounds you can hear. I call this the listening game and regularly play this with students to help calm them.

-Go for a walk and pay attention to your surroundings

All of the above can be practiced with your children as well. You can teach them to ask themselves the check in questions, find special breathing exercises for kids (e.g. Rainbow breathing, box breathing) and you can play the listening game with them (note: this is also a helpful going to sleep game!)

Kind regards,

Ms. Alice Romijn

Ms. Alice Romijn

School Chaplain