Student Wellbeing
RAINBOWS
Thank you to parents/caregivers who have forwarded Expressions of Interest for their child/children to be considered for the next Rainbows program.
I am currently weaving my way through, and parents/caregivers of students who will be participating in the next program will be notified shortly.
THE BUSY-NESS OF LIFE
Have you noticed how quickly the days are flying by? Sometimes, we need to stop and connect with ourselves as we forget how important we are to ourselves and those around us.
I have come across an article from Bruce Sullivan, Founder and Development Consultant at “Your Best You.” Like many I’m sure, I could relate to the article and Bruce has given me permission to share. However, this wellbeing piece comes with a health warning: If you’re too busy to read past this first paragraph, THEN, you definitely must read past this first paragraph!
Have you caught the Hurry Virus?
If you find your vocabulary ladened with phrases such as “I’m too busy,” “I don’t have time,” “Make it quick,” “Sorry I’m late” or “Where did the year go?” then please… give yourself the next few minutes (and no fast forwarding to the end) and let me ask you…
Have you caught the Hurry Virus? If you’re still with me, then perhaps you’ve managed to avoid this rapidly spreading virus. However, just in case it sneaks up and catches you by surprise, I’d like you to be aware of some of the symptoms of the ‘Hurry Virus’…
Symptom 1: You’re in the express lane at your local supermarket counting the number of items in other people’s baskets in front of you.
Symptom 2: You read bedtime stories to your children at 180 words per minute and skip over a few pages hoping they don’t notice.
Symptom 3: You put your seat belt on as you drive up the street because you can’t spare those few seconds to do it in the driveway.
Symptom 4: You push the button at the traffic lights 55 times because you know that will make them change quicker so you can keep rushing to your next appointment. (Note: Symptom 4 also appears in lifts or intercoms… in fact anywhere, where there is a button to press!)
Symptom 5: You make only one trip from the garage to the kitchen with $300 worth of groceries when a relaxed person in control of their life might make three trips!
If you can identify any of these symptoms in your life, then I dare say you may have caught the Hurry Virus. The sad part of this virus is that it doesn’t let up. All day you rush around, busying your way through your work, ploughing right through till you crash into bed… exhausted. Not surprisingly, our hectic schedules and busy lives barely leave us enough time even for essentials such as food and rest! According to sleep specialist Doctor Yvette Cook, what we do during the day has a big effect on our sleep at night. "A lot of people are walking around very drowsy during the day because they're not getting enough time in bed to sleep," she says. "Work eats up the largest chunk of our day and many of us are even too busy to eat lunch. We get to work early and leave late, leaving little time to unwind. Everybody needs a ‘down time’ where they can unwind.”
Despite the exhaustion, Dr Cook found most people do not want more time for sleep. Two-thirds of people she has surveyed said they would like to have a longer day, so they could accomplish more. Most would prefer an extra six hours in a day to do additional activities such as volunteer work or taking care of children at home. And you know the strange part? At the end of these crazy days of not getting everything done that you plan to, skipping meals and losing sleep, you still don’t feel satisfied. I have a couple of suggestions that you may already use to fight off the Hurry Virus. Can you spare just a moment more to read it?
1. FACTS MATTER! Ask yourself – if I don’t get it done today, is it going to matter in a year’s time? Or if I don’t get it done today, is it ok if I do it tomorrow? Or if I didn’t do it tomorrow, would that matter in a week’s time? Under the groggy influence of the Hurry Virus, it’s really important to regain some perspective by reintroducing the facts. Getting some perspective back can make a big difference and allow you some time to truly be with your family and the people you care about.
2. STOP! Here’s a challenge for you… Every hour of your waking day, stop for one minute and have a little pause break. I like to call it a ‘Grateful Break.’ Just stop what you’re doing and spend one minute being grateful for something in your life right at that moment. The other day when it was un-customarily hot for a winter day, I was grateful to work in an air-conditioned office. I looked at my shoes and was grateful I had some to wear. I looked at my kids playing (noisily) and was grateful they were enjoying themselves. It’s hard to be grateful and cynical at the same time!
3. BE EARLY! Now if it’s ‘too hard’ to even stop for a minute every hour, then try this: Plan to be somewhere early. Leave with plenty of time to spare, enjoy the journey and spend some time at your destination giving your body a chance to catch up with your brain. Notice what’s going on around you – kids playing, people meeting. Notice too, the people in a hurry… and be grateful for that moment that you’re not one of them!
Guess what? If you read through to here, you’ve just given yourself two minutes off to stop and think! Congratulations!
Oh, and while you’re here… take a good look around and take one more minute to experience a grateful break!
... ... ... ... ... ...
I hope if you have caught the virus, Bruce has given you some great remedies to prevent it visiting you too many times.
As adults, many of the behaviours/language we model to our children are easily replicated by them. Hopefully, by becoming aware and trying our best not to catch the “Hurry Virus”, it will allow our children to become calm and be individuals who are grateful for all they have and all that is around them ☺️
Have a great week everyone!
Mrs Kerry Browne
Student Wellbeing Coordinator