Wellness Month

Sleep Nutrition Mental Wellness Physical Fitness

Week 3: Mental Wellness

Sept 19, 2013

Are there quick ,ps and recipes for Mental Wellness, the same way there are for sleep and nutri,on? Staying balanced, calm, and mindful sounds like hard work--and it is, especially when paren,ng. Guiding our children to a place of mental well-being can be even more challenging, in our high-pressure, digital world. But there are strategies that work, and theyre fast. Here are three excellent talks from Wellness experts as diverse as they are entertaining: a monk, a happiness researcher, and a gamer. Yes, games: Im talking play as a means to not only feeling beJer, but living longer. Dont believe me? Take some ,me to watch these.

The happy secret to better work

(12 minutes)
In this fast-paced, invigora,ng talk, Harvard researcher Shawn Achor convinces us with bursts of hilarity, made up data, and ashes of brilliance that when it comes to happiness, we (that is, preJy much all of us) have it (that is, preJy much everything) backwards. How many of us assume the secret of success is to work harder? And that success will bring us happiness? What if, in fact, the absolute opposite were true? hJp://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_beJer_work.html

All it takes is 10 mindful minutes

(10 minutes)
A former Buddhist monk speaks on the importance of being present We're talking about our minds--our most precious and valuable resource, through which we experience every single moment of our livesthe same mind we depend upon to be focused, crea,ve, spontaneous, and to perform at our very best in everything that we do, and yet we don't take any ,me out to look aSer it hJp://www.ted.com/talks/andy_puddicombe_all_it_takes_is_10_mindful_minutes.html

The game that can give you 10 extra years of life

(20 minutes) A game designer on healing, end of life regrets, and why video games arent all bad
Jane McGonigals rive,ng and personal talk changed my life-- as a doctor, as a parent, and as a pa,ent. She summarizes four spheres of wellness based on her research with hospice pa,ents and personal experience with illness (Cogni,ve, Physical, Social, Emo,onal), and most importantly, WHAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE THEM (believe it or not, this is where the video game ,es in). Wellness becomes a maJer of baJling bad guys, recrui,ng allies, and seeking power-ups in all your quadrants. Yes, theres an app for that. (SuperBeJer.com). hJp://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_the_game_that_can_give_you_10_extra_years_of_life.html

Based on research with hospice patients, the top ve regrets at the end of life are: I wish I hadnt worked so hard I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends I wish I had let myself be happier I wish I had had the courage to express my true self I wish I had lived a life true to my dreams

Today, practice living a life wi"#t regret.Be well. -%e Wellness Team

If you dont have access to the Internet but would like paper copies of any of the links in this newsleJer, please contact your classroom teacher or Erica or Kristen in the front oce. If you or your childs class are par,cipa,ng in any wellness-related ac,vi,es, wed love to highlight them on our website. Please forward to Michelle Rockwell or Anna Morrison: michellerockwell @rocketmail.com or anna@cpsfc.org Thank you to Heather Frederick for content and formaang.