Here are our top tips to enhance your wellbeing: 

  • Eat regular meals and try, if possible, to eat in a different room to where you are studying.
  • Try to avoid sitting in front of a screen for too long and agree limits for online gaming, social media etc.
  • Make sure that you get plenty of sleep.
  • Try to stick to a routine, getting up at a similar time and going to bed at a similar time each day.
  • Try to spend more time with your family, perhaps watching TV together, preparing meals or playing a game.
  • Read a book. This will take your mind of school work and will help you to escape and relax.
  • Go outside for some fresh air. This could be in your garden, through sport or fitness or as part of a daily outdoor exercise routine.
  • Try to avoid over exposure to the news. It is good to be aware of what is happening in the world but try to limit yourself to only doing this for a small amount of time each day.
  • Consider learning a new skill or developing an existing one. You could play an instrument, try a new recipe or perhaps try to teach a pet some new tricks.
  • Doing something kind for someone else raises your feeling of wellbeing. You could try things like making a drink, preparing food for other people in the house, calling an elderly relative, writing a letter to a relative who is not so good with technology etc.
  • Find something calming to do each day. Calming colouring, five minutes of mindfulness, listening to music. These can help you to relax and reset your mind.
  • Keep moving! There are plenty of home workouts you can do and these will help you both physically and mentally.
  • Meet with friends or keep in touch remotely, by phone or by text.

Remember that we are here to help and support you. You can email your form tutor, your subject teachers and any of the pastoral team. We are all here to help you.

The following ideas, from our teaching staff, may give you that little bit of inspiration to help your wellbeing.

Cookery Ideas
Miss Grayson, Food Technology teacher, is pleased to share some links to some recipes which are family themed.  They can be cooked with others or you can cook them on your own to relax. There are some sweet and savoury dishes.
All these recipes are comforting and are ideal for when things start to feel overwhelming.
Chocolate brownies: a favourite for many people.
Pizza swirls: a nice easy snack which can be adapted by adding your favourite pizza toppings.
Grilled cheese sandwich: ideal for lunch
Pineapple upside down cake: this is a classic recipe.  You can swap out the pineapple for any fruit of your choice.

Music for Relaxation and Wellbeing

Miss Ibbotson, Head of Music, has put together the document below with numerous musical links to help relaxation and general wellbeing.

Miss Ibbotson’s Guide to Music for Relaxation and Wellbeing

Craft Ideas

Miss Raynard, who organises Craft Club, has given the following links for some craft activities for all ages (parents too!) which can be done at home using simple materials.

Craft ideas using paper:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc1oMulOZ5c

Indoor laser maze:

https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/diy-hallway-laser-maze-indoor-fun-for-kids.html

DIT Bookmark templates (at the very bottom of the page )

https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/diy-origami-bookmarks-print-fold.html

DIY Foosball table:

https://www.u-createcrafts.com/diy-mini-foosball-tableperfect-for-kids/

DIY paper spinners:

https://www.makeandtakes.com/diy-paper-spinner

Simple yarn and wool craft:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAAyhp5w6Zo

Get Creative!  There’s a reason why artists enjoy becoming swept away by their work.  Expressing yourself through creative means can be therapeutic, whether it involves painting, writing, dancing, etc.

If you’re finding it hard to express what you are feeling, channelling your feelings into creating something can be energising. In addition, when you create something you enter the ‘creative magic zone’, which can be a form of meditation itself.

Below are a few lists of projects that you could try.

Art Projects:

· Complete a paint-by-number project

· Draw something in your garden, such as a bird, or tree.

· Start a needlework, knitting, or crochet project

· Compile a photo album that you can share later with others

· Take up a new hobby like jewellery making

· Take up origami

Plan for the Future! Below are some ideas to help you focus on the future.

· Make a “future list” of all the things you want to do

· Make a bucket list of things to do in your lifetime

· Make a “goals” list for the year ahead

Write a Letter!  You can enjoy writing about your day, what you’d like to do in the short and long term, how you’re feeling, any work you’re struggling with, or any topic you wish to write about!  You could even try and write a beautiful poem!

It’s a fun, safe and easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, and you will have something to look forward to!  Your letter will also make a huge difference to the happiness and wellbeing of you and the other person.

Below are a few lists of writing projects that you could try.

· Practice writing in a journal each day

· Take up hand lettering or calligraphy

· Start a daily blog journaling your experiences for others to read

· Write poetry

· Write short stories

· Write comic sketches