Feeling overwhelmed?
‘Negative thoughts don’t seem to be a part of me. I always think of the beneficial things.’ [Captain Sir Tom Moore]
Mrs Jones is more accomplished than me at most things but the one at which I marvel most is her ability to do jigsaw puzzles. The other day I sat mesmerised by the speed at which she could locate and then place the tiny pieces of Elvis’ jet-black hair in a brain-straining 1000 piece puzzle, as well as hold a conversation with our daughters, who seem to be inheriting her talent. As I watched contentedly, it soon dawned on me that their focused engagement had lured me in too and, even though I was not actually doing the puzzle, my mind was wholly present in the room, enjoying the moment.
Escapism is the holy grail right now and I found it not by being withdrawn but by being present and engaged. This is so important. We all have pressures that can cause us to worry so we need to let our minds focus on other things so that we can return to the more difficult challenges later on with a fresh perspective.
It has been Mental Health Week in schools this week and my focus has been on dealing with the feeling of being overwhelmed. This is a not uncommon issue for pupils, especially in the older age groups as they juggle more complex workloads with higher expectations as well as commitments to sport, music, drama and so on. And at the moment this is made more acute because of the intensity of remote learning as well as the feeling of being isolated, away from school.
The key is to step back, have an overview and prioritise rationally. Start with the bigger things and the smaller tasks become easier. This is about learning to be observant to one’s own feelings and acknowledging them without being consumed by them. Children need to know that their thoughts do not own them. We all have negative as well as positive thoughts; it is human nature to think of consequences that might happen, not all of them good, but it does not mean these things will happen. But by simply being observant to what we are thinking we can learn to be rational, then we can prioritise and set a plan for what we need to accomplish. And if we focus on who and what is important in our lives, this will bring us the balance of comfort, positivity, presence and escapism that we all need to tackle the stresses of life.
One way to escape and let your mind wander is to listen to music and you might be interested in our ‘Wellbeing Playlist’ which is on the front page of Padlet in the Music and Performing Arts section. This week’s list selection comes from Harry and Jack Jordan and features music from Elton John, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra and Coldplay as well as the musicals Oliver and Suessical. It’s well worth a listen.
And while listening to the playlist perhaps you could tackle the wellbeing activities in the Whole School Events section. This week there is a lovely guide to drawing your feelings which is part of the Mental Health Week’s ‘Express Yourself’ theme. Simple ideas but, for a brief period at least, a chance to escape.
The latest news on the Covid rates in and around Eastbourne is very encouraging, with a hefty 43% drop over the last week. There is a suggestion that the surge in reported rates at the start of 2021 had much to do with the massive increase in testing, especially as so many in Eastbourne work in health and social care where regular testing has been instituted, and this makes a good deal of sense. So, while we cannot afford to rest on our laurels, the landscape is looking brighter with positive news on the vaccine and its impact on the transmission of the virus.
As things stand, there has been a tentative government suggestion that pupils will be allowed back on 8 March. However, this is far from being certain – it might be sooner but it could be later – and this has led us to conclude, having carefully considered options, that last-minute changes to holiday / term time dates would be inadvisable. We remain flexible, but expect us to stick to scheduled term dates with an Easter holiday where hopefully lighter restrictions and weather allow for some decent family time followed by an unprecedented seven-week stretch before half term of in-school summer term teaching from 13 April to 28 May. I, for one, look forward to those glorious summer days of seeing the fields awash with happy, smiley faces.
I’m delighted to announce that Poppy Campion has been named Athlete of the Month by the International Castle Triathlon Series following her outstanding effort in the virtual triathlon she ran last month in aid of Macmillan Cancer. If you would like to donate to this amazing cause, here is the link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/victoria-campion2
See you at the Friends’ quiz tomorrow and happy weekend everyone!