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Health & Wellness

Helen Bissett —

Message from our School Counsellor

Hi everyone,

I hope all of you are well and coping with week 4 of our lockdown. For a lot of us this is when the going gets harder. The novelty has worn off, anxiety is higher, tempers are a little closer to the surface and we are just plainly getting sick of each other. It is hugely important to consider not just your health and well being but those in your family, bubble. 

Here are some things you can do to ease the pressure: 

1. Exercise - really important you get out of your room and off your phone for at least sometime during the day. You are allowed to go for a walk or a run so take up the opportunity. It might be that you want to do this alone to get headspace or the dog needs exercise or whatever but for both mental and physical well being this is important. 

2. Eating healthy - some of you will be going through withdrawals through not being able to get to your favourite takeaway or coffee shop. Surprisingly enough this is not necessarily a bad thing. But for you grazers out there now might be a good time to check out what you are snacking on, too much sugar in a confined space is not always going to have a good ending. 

3. When you start to feel yourself getting up tight or anxious with your nearest and dearest breathing is good. It will help you to calm down - honest. It is not a good idea to niggle away at someone in your bubble and watch them explode either so try to avoid that for the sake of world peace. Human’s in general are not good at change and those of us who feel anxious about the ‘what if’s’ in life are going to be really feeling it by now. If you hear yourself thinking “what if, what if”, try and change it to “what is”. Not easy but it will help you deal with what is happening today, not what might or might not happen tomorrow. 

4. Finding a quiet space - This could be really hard right now for some of you but very soon Wednesday (15 April) in fact, teachers are going to start to roll out subject work to get on with. Some teachers have already started. Procrastination will not help you in the long run so get on to it. 

5. Try not to expect too much from everyone in your bubble. Remember everyone is in a bubble and everyone will be finding things the same as you are. In the words of our Prime Minister ‘be kind’. 

6. Stay connected with your friends, it is important. 

On the upside there are some things to be thankful for: 

1. We have had great weather, which means not only can we get out and about a bit but soaking up those rays is good for our health, think of all that vitamin D and viruses, particularly this one, don’t like the sun.

2. We live in New Zealand not the UK, Italy, Spain or America. 

3. It’s only for a month. Some of you have been grounded for much longer and without a phone! 

4. We are cleaner than we have ever been. 

5. And most of us are healthier. 

6. The environment is looking better, pollution is down and the native birds are increasing in numbers, which has to be a good thing. So take care, keep safe and be kind to one another. We are all in this together. 

I am available at bh@tauhara.school.nz if you want to get in touch. We will start with an email and progress to other sorts of technology. 

Regards 

Ms Helen Bissett
Guidance Counsellor