PRINCIPAL MESSAGE

CREATING A POSITIVE MINDSET IN TOUGH TIMES

Welcome back to another week of Remote Learning. I have been taking the opportunity this week to catch up with children in their daily Google Meetings, and I have been so impressed with the quality of the learning-taking place, the independence being displayed by the students and the resilience being shown by all in our learning community.

Also in answer to a question I was asked by Jaxson Young (Grade 3) when I dropped into their Google Meeting. No mate, I am not growing a mullet. My hair has just gone a little haywire of late. You try getting a haircut during COVID Lockdowns LOL!

The St Ita’s staff have done an amazing job preparing and supporting children learning from home. They have done such a great job sowing a really positive vibe and keeping our students motivated.

To all parents, stick at it. I know it is a tough situation and I know how some parents are struggling. The important thing is that you have all done an outstanding job and at some point, we will get through this tough time. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns for your child’s learning, the first port of call is the classroom teacher. They will support and assist you with anything that you need. We are here for you.

The COVID-19 pandemic which has permeated our lives over the last two years brings with it a saturation of doom and gloom. If we let it, this doom and gloom can have a severe negative impact on our mental health and well-being.

Getting ourselves in the right mindset, shifting to a more positive outlook on life can help get us through these tough times. This, of course, is not always easy to do; we need to have the skills and capacity to develop a strong, healthy and positive mindset.

Below is a list of positive behaviours that we can employ to help us through tough times, adversity and personal strain and pain. These are some simple strategies that I try to employ during COVID Lockdowns.

• Take breaks from social media. Sometimes social platforms can easily turn contentious. For me personally, I try to avoid social media, as I just find it far too negative and toxic.
• Take a walk with the dog, go for a hike, ride a skateboard /scooter, get on the bike and go for a ride. Perform some sort of daily movement that you enjoy, especially outside. Whilst you are out and about try to pay attention to nature and what is going on around you.
• Keep a journal. Writing things down can be a great outlet for emotions and a great way to reveal and record all the things to be grateful for in this life. When I travelled overseas with mates a few years back, I wrote a comprehensive journal of the trip. There is so many good memories in what I wrote and they are a great read to revisit when things are a little gloomy.
• Have a pot of tea – meaning slow down and take a moment. Make time for yourself each day, even if it is only 15 minutes. Check in with yourself and do something for you.
• Set limits on how much news you are consuming. The modern-day news programs are designed to hook viewers and keep them coming back for more. Get what you need to stay informed and then shut it down. Most importantly consider the sources of your news and make sure they are reputable.
• Surround yourself with positive people. When you are presented with negativity, take a deep breath, listen. Try not to engage in the negative.
• Focus on your four walls. Things can sometimes seem so out of control so work hard to focus on what you can control. Take care of yourself and your immediate family first, and then everything outside your four walls will become so much easier to handle.
• Seek out “Your Squad, Your Posse” those people who lift you up and listen to you when you need to vent. Then leave it there. Get it out and let it go.
• The eyes are the window to the soul. Smile. Even behind your mask ?
• Cook and eat food that is healthy and nutritious. It will make you feel good that you are taking steps to take care of yourself and your family.
• Say hello. Reach out to others, whether greeting them during your walk, making a call or text, or sending a note in the mail. Stay connected.
• Avoid engaging. While we cannot control the actions of others, we can control our own reactions.
• Practice gratitude. Consider starting each day, recognising/writing three things you are grateful for.
• Get proper sleep. This one is a no-brainer. It just makes day-to-day life so much easier to handle with a proper night’s sleep.
• Try to take it moment by moment. Something I learned a long time ago is to focus on your current situation. You cannot do anything about the past and you can only do your best in the moment for whatever may come.
• Give yourself licence to escape. Make time for the things that bring you joy, whether it’s getting outside, reading a novel, building projects, cooking something new. Self-care is a crucial component to good health and more important than ever during COVID lockdowns.

I would love to hear from any parents who would be keen to share the things you do to build a positive mindset during COVID lockdowns. I will create a page for next week’s newsletter devoted to sharing all the positive ways our community copes with the challenges of COVID lockdowns. Please send your Positive Mindset Tasks to; principal@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au