Embracing Wellbeing: A Week of Healthy Activities
At Santa Maria College, we understand the importance of balancing work, study, and personal wellbeing. Our Health & Physical Education team recently hosted Health Week at the College, incorporating a range of healthy activities, which fits in well with our Thrive at Work initiative. Health Week is designed to encourage staff and students to prioritise their health and wellbeing, especially during the hectic times of the school year.
Encouraging Mindfulness and Relaxation
Among the activities offered were massages, skin checks, and mindfulness & breathwork sessions. These activities aim to help our community slow down and take a moment to focus on their mental and physical health. English teacher Samantha Doughty shared her appreciation, saying, “Term 3 is a particularly busy term at the college, so the opportunity to have a massage during this time is so appreciated. A huge thank you to Anita and the PE Department for this ongoing initiative, and of course, to our amazing masseuses – Valeska had me walking on air!”
Year 5 teacher Lindsey Fitzgerald also expressed her gratitude for the initiative, stating, “Having a skin check at school was easy and accessible and took away the added stress of travelling to these kinds of appointments. Especially now I live in Australia, it was a great reminder to be sun-safe and have a greater awareness of the signs of skin cancer. I also like that we can sign up for massages. It’s not often in the school day you can carve out 25 minutes just for you. It reminds me to slow down and pause from the busyness of school life.”
Benefits of Wellbeing Initiatives
Implementing wellbeing initiatives like these has numerous benefits for our staff:
Reduced Stress: Activities such as massages and mindfulness sessions can significantly lower stress levels, enhancing overall mood and productivity.
Increased Focus and Efficiency: Staff can improve their focus and efficiency in their daily tasks by taking regular breaks to relax and recharge.
Enhanced Health Awareness: Offering skin checks helps raise awareness about health issues and encourages proactive management of personal health.
Thrive at Work
Santa Maria College is dedicated to creating a supportive and caring community. Our annual Health Week initiative is just one way we can commit to looking after our minds and bodies and ensuring our staff thrive at work.
Thank you to our Health & Physical Education team for a wonderful week of health initiatives. Let’s continue to support each other to make wellbeing a priority!
- HealthWeek, mindfulness, StressReduction, ThriveAtWork, wellbeing