Weekly Wellbeing

NAIDOC Week

We are so fortunate to have so many resources at our disposal when it comes to learning about and celebrating what matters in our world. Last week was NAIDOC Week, a week set aside to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I know that this week all children at CHPS have been participating in discussions and activities in light of NAIDOC week being in the school holidays. This year’s theme is ‘Heal Country’.

When looking at some activities in the following booklet, I thought I’d adapt and share this one with you. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders call the natural environment ‘Mother Earth’. Watch this short clip, as a family brainstorm actions that you can take to look after and respect Mother Earth. Feel free to email me Julie.reid2@education.vic.gov.au your ideas and I will publish them on this page in the coming weeks.

Tiny Habits and ‘One Minute Rules’

It’s so great to be back at school. How cool is it to see smiling happy children? It just warms my heart. I had a varied break, with a mixture of catching up with friends and family and being a taxi for my 3 children who enjoyed socialising with their friends. I also continued to participate in a course that I feel privileged to be currently undertaking: The Certificate of Creating Wellbeing. This is facilitated by staff at the ‘Wellbeing Lab’ and has been made possible by Maroondah City Council. It is all based on Positive Psychology, and provides many practical tips on how you can not only build your own wellbeing, but the wellbeing of others around you. This can involve so many things, but has a lot to do with the language we use, the questions we ask, the stories we tell ourselves and how big (or little) our goals are when we are trying to take action to improve our wellbeing or the wellbeing of others.

There is a growing body of research around the importance of making small changes that result in bigger outcomes. Dr BJ Fogg talks about the importance of ‘Tiny Habits’, while author of ‘The Happiness Project’ has a ‘one minute rule’: if a task will take a minute or less to complete, do it now! Amantha Imber (Organisational Psychologist and founder of Inventium) explains that from a reward point of view, our brains are driven by what will give us more dopamine (the ‘feel good’ hormone). When we complete tasks (even ones that take a few seconds) there is that sense of achievement (Imber. A (2021), 8 Ways to Work the One Minute Rule, The House of Wellbeing 2021). Below are a few suggestions that you could try to increase the release of dopamine. You could also encourage your children to undertake the small tasks!

Make your bed (or get your children to make theirs!)
Process the dishes (children can help)
Open and process your hard copy mail
Hang up your clothes (or get your children to hang up theirs)
Clean out your personal or work bag (and have your children unpack theirs every night)
Lay out your clothes (or ask your children to lay out their clothes) for the next day

Maybe you could have some fun with this and make a list with your family of 60 sec tasks that will help everyone feel better (and leave more time for the fun stuff!).

Happy Birthday Play School – 50 Years

Just for fun, I thought that I would mention this. For so many children (me included!), this show has helped them learn so many skills and have fun. It has also given parents/guardians great craft and other ideas when it comes to enhancing learning and development. Click here for some trips down memory lane if you are interested.

Check it out!

Please check out the Community Page. There is so much going on in Maroondah! Please particularly think about any men that you know that might want to participate in the ‘Son’s of the West’ program currently being offered to Maroondah. It looks excellent.

Until next time,

Julie Reid, on behalf of the Wellbeing team