The simple things can make such a big difference to the overall health and the wellbeing of our college staff and students. This has certainly been a focus of our supportive Wellbeing Team in 2020. We hope that with practice our staff and students can incorporate mindful strategies into every day routine; we want to see self-care become part of an individual’s life and a school’s culture. Benefits can include feeling calmer, clearer, more energised and focused, and this may increase contribution, performance and productivity.

Cheltenham Secondary College Wellbeing Week Schedule 2020

Day 1. Monday -

Download the Smiling Mind App

The focus is to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere for learning. It takes practice, but it becomes easier each time you engage in this mindfulness exercise. You will notice the difference that a few quiet minutes can make to the beginning of the day/lesson. Start your school day with a 3-5 minute Mindfulness exercise. Staff and students can practice this at the beginning of each lesson and they will notice the difference of the calming effect it will have on the whole room.

Day 2. Tuesday -

The Daily Steps Reminder

Exercise is a wonderful way to promote good health and wellbeing. A lot of us find it hard to fit regular exercise into our busy schedules. However there are some easy ways to do this such as walking each day. This week why don’t you take the opportunity and get a pedometer or find another way to help count your steps. Most smartphones have one you can use. Set a target, such as 7000 steps per day and get moving. It may seem simple, but it can make a big difference to your overall health and wellbeing.

Day 3. Wednesday -

Art therapy sessions

There is something relaxing and calming about painting, drawing, and colouring in. For a simple session as a team/class, photocopy some mindfulness colouring pages or look up Google for Mandelas that can be copied and coloured in. If you're taking classes at school, print copies and place them on the staff room table with coloured pens and pencils through the week. Encourage people to come together during break times and sit and create together. This is a lovely way to engage with each other; it's creative, calming and fun. Doodling /drawing is fun also.

Day 4. Thursday -

Silent sensory walks (this is also suited for your own home environment)

This is a great activity to do and as a team or a good alternative meeting replacement. We often get so busy that we disconnect with our physical environment and stop recognising the different aspects of our working space. Commit to a 15-20 minute sensory walk around the school or where you live. Take in the sights, smells, and touch of the things that make up your school /home environment use all of your senses. You may notice things you’ve been missing, or get ideas on ways to enhance your school environment. Come together at the end to discuss everyone’s experiences and ideas.

For added sensory experience, (at home) where the environment allows, take your shoes off and do the walk barefoot. Evidence shows that the nerve endings in our feet can create elevated and positive brain activity.

Day 5. Friday -

Celebration & gratitude meeting

Choose a time during today that you are going to sit together as a group and engage in positive reflections on what has been achieved by teams and individuals through the first three terms. 2020 has proven a to be such a challenging year, so this is a good time for positive reflection for staff and students. Use this time to sit and take pride in the immense effort and contributions people have made. Share something positive about each other that you have noticed throughout the year or maybe something that is personal but complimentary to that person that you would like them to know.

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