If you are a mom or teacher, I hope you pay attention to your own self-care and wellness. But it’s also important to teach your children or students to do the same.
Both my husband and my son graduated from a preparatory boarding school for boys in Chattanooga, Tennessee called The McCallie School. (If you have a son, check out the school here.)
We get the school magazine and I always enjoy reading it, but their springtime issue especially caught my eye. The focus of the magazine is “Seeking Wellness — Finding Balance in a Pressure-Packed World.”
The letter from the headmaster, Lee Burns, made several important points. He talked about how the school has significantly increased its focus on wellness, which has become an institutional focus for the school. He starts his article with these words:
“McCallie is a school of high standards and excellence, with a culture of hard work and achievement . . . That culture is a defining McCallie characteristic, a strength. Yet we must be thoughtful and careful of our strengths, lest they throw us off balance or create unintended consequences.”
He goes on to talk about the pressures that our middle school and high school students face. These pressures are leading to higher levels of anxiety, loneliness, and depression. I see this even in elementary school. McCallie is putting an intentional focus on wellness.
Some of the practices they are promoting include: expressing gratitude, being mindful, breathing techniques, journaling, regulating social media use, eating healthfully, exercise, and sleep.
It’s ironic to see that some practices (such as keeping a gratitude journal and meditation) used to be considered “woo-woo” or out of the mainstream, but are now being acknowledged as practices that really do make you healthier and better able to handle stress.
Two of McCallie’s counselors, Will Honeycutt and Trey Tucker, wrote a piece in the magazine called “17 Ways to Live Better in a Busy World.” They suggest to the boys that they try picking four or five actions to try or to repeat. Check out this list and see what you can incorporate in your own life and can teach your children or students to do:
1 – Sleep (go to bed early, take a nap, sleep in)
2 – Volunteer
3 – Go outside
4 – Treat yourself (indulge in something just for you)
5 – Learn something new
6 – Give hugs. Get hugs.
7 – Limit technology
8 – Smile when you wake up (think of something that makes you happy)
9 – Nurture your faith (pray, meditate, read Scripture)
10 – Express gratitude
11 – Laugh
12 – Cultivate friendships
13 – Declutter
14 – Exercise
15 – Go solo (spend some time by yourself)
16 – Practice hospitality (invite people to join you for something fun)
17 – Eat natural food
As you enjoy your summer, remember to take time for your own self-care and teach your kids how to do the same!