Students & Wellbeing

Doing less is good for you

The holidays are now with us but how best do we spend our time off? 

For everyone, holiday time can produce a different experience. You might go away yet be distracted by the thought of your email inbox filling up. Or you sit down to watch a movie and immediately feel guilty about all the tasks still on your to-do list. Or perhaps you splurge on a massage, but barely enjoy it because your thoughts are racing the entire time.

Do Less. It’s good for you.

Time.com

More and more staff, students and families feel guilty about not being productive. It might feel selfish and indulgent. However, more and more studies have shown that downtime, time to completely disconnect, is vital to our overall mental health and wellbeing.

Relaxation can take many forms but at its core needs to be about focusing on a single activity that allows us to set aside intrusive or unrelated distractions.

For me that’s cooking or reading. I love a good movie, but my mind can still wander off into those intrusive thoughts that can cause stress.

During the Easter School Holiday break I hope you find an activity that lets you enter that state of relaxation where time slides by without you realising. No guilt afterwards, I promise. There must always be time in each person’s lives to prioritise themself.

If you find you need some mental stimulation or are facing some wellbeing challenges, please remember the SchoolTV website. All families have access through the school’s SEQTA website. It is full of helpful videos from wellbeing professionals that have been thoroughly reviewed prior to being made available. The list of options is extensive and can be accessed at any time and as often as you need.

I hope the wider St George’s family find the time over the next two weeks to be together to rest and relax. If you are travelling, safe journey. I look forward to seeing you all next term. Happy Easter to you all. 

Mr Ian Thompson

Dean of Students & Wellbeing