Greetings UWCEA Community,
How do you make the most of a break during a very busy year?
You pack some essentials to ensure you can practice self-care!
With a well deserved break ahead of us, we wanted to provide some tools for you to explore as you take time to refresh, renew, and recover from the first quarter. Although many have faced an array of emotions over recent months, we cannot help but appreciate the determination and perseverance exhibited throughout our campuses. We recognize that this can take a toll on many as they strive to achieve at high levels over an extended period of time, and encourage everyone to use this break to discover new ways to thrive in the months ahead.
Within our school community, there is an ongoing practice of reflection as we seek to improve the ways we identify and support the needs of others. However, there is also an emphasis on providing strategies to encourage balance in the approach to our collective wellbeing. It is said that you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him (or her) drink. We know that there are times when people forget to access the tools at their disposal to maintain their mental health, so, we wanted to share some with you today.
A recent blog by Nedra Tawwab highlighted some of the key ideas related to self-care, and provides a prescription for how to begin creating a healthy space in your life. Her tips are straightforward and concise and, if followed, can help to clear the clutter that so often lead to the disappointments and frustrations that limit our enjoyment of daily life. Here are ten Real Self-Care tips to practice over the break.
In addition, last Friday evening, Dr. Marc Brackett (a professor at Yale University) started a presentation asking, “How do you feel?” We hear this question all the time, but do we really take the time to answer it honestly and reflectively. In his presentation for CASEL CARES, Dr. Brackett delves into the topic of Permission To Feel for Adults. Listening to this recording, you can continue filling your self-care toolbox with the wisdom that comes from a deeper understanding of your emotional intelligence and strategies to enhance your ability to self-regulate, while you model the skill for the children in your life. To further understand the information presented in the recording, Dr. Brackett and CASEL created resources that include a self-care self-assessment and other tools available on this link. Also, for parents who are interested in learning how this works with children, please register to participate in another event on Friday evening. The focus of this presentation will be on what you can do to support the children in your life with their emotional health during challenging times. Link to register for the event, or to receive the recording.
There is a tremendous amount of work being done around the world to train members of society to address the basics of mental health in the same way people are trained to provide medical first aid. This has become even more vital during the pandemic and lockdowns that were instituted in parts of the world. A program called Mental Health First Aid has been gaining momentum throughout the world, and can lead to better understanding the needs of individuals in our community, as well as providing basic tools to support. Last week, an article in the Washington Post provided insight into this program, and we welcome you to discover more by reading it yourself this link. Now more than ever, it is essential that we all fill our toolboxes with some resources to address our own mental health, and those that we encounter who may need our help.
