Have you ever felt the soul-crushing burden of stress dragging your life through the mud? Ever had your precious time dwindled away at the hands of stress, while you are left powerless and alone? Well all this pain and anguish can be resolved in an instant; and all it takes is a change in the way we think. This alteration in brain chemistry is defined as mindfulness, the ability to obtain momentary awareness and recognition of our thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness is the key to defeating stress before it defeats you. Mindfulness is something all of us need in our lives right now and practising it can help all of us to lead a better life.
We should be terrified of stress. Stress is a psychological epidemic that is sweeping the nation, infecting the developing minds of the youth. It is a leading cause for mental illnesses at a young age and is killing people’s motivation and desire to be their best selves. Stress is causing you and your kids to fall short in life. As a student, I have experienced the overwhelming feeling of stress firsthand. The crushing, immense pressure to create a future for ourselves, while juggling assignments and friendships. Sadly, stress has become a regular component of school life. According to a shocking study from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, teenagers are 20% more susceptible to intense psychological stress than adults. This highlights that no one is truly safe from the crippling and overwhelming pressure of mental illness. But pressure makes diamonds, and there is a light at the end of a tunnel. Parents, students, now is the time to change the way we think.
How can I alleviate my stress? The answer is as simple as one word: Mindfulness. Mindfulness is the human superpower to be conscious and fully aware of our thoughts and feelings as they occur. Mindfulness is a form of meditation used to harness the boundless potential of our emotions. It can be achieved by stopping, breathing, and thinking about how we will react to something before we do, slowing down and relaxing your thought process and blocking out any rash decisions. According to the University of Washington, mindfulness can help to reduce intense stress responses entirely. They also say it improves brain function, adding clarity to whatever is causing you stress. Mindfulness is a raft, keeping us afloat while sailing the sea of stress.
Next time you're out and about and you feel your stress building, just slow down and breathe. If you don't leave room in your life for mindfulness, it’s easy for stress to take control. If even for a few seconds, take some time off to think about your surroundings. It’s up to all of us to use mindfulness as a launchpad into a brighter, more peaceful future for humanity. So, heal your mind, unlock inner peace and conquer stress, because our true power lies in serenity.
- By Rupert Irwin - Year 9 TGS student
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021, August 12). First insights from the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-21 | Australian Bureau of Statistics. Www.abs.gov.au. https://www.abs.gov.au/article...
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2019). Mindfulness Definition | What Is Mindfulness. Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.e...
Silverman, A. (2017). How to Reduce Stress Through Mindfulness | Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging With Physical Disabilities. Agerrtc.washington.edu. https://agerrtc.washington.edu...
Latest Blog
It Takes a Village...
The Toowoomba Grammar School Boarding community plays a pivotal role in shaping the young minds of our boarders and instilling values whilst creating a sense of mateship that can last a lifetime. The nurturing and supportive network of staff not only ensure a safe and structured environment but also cultivates a sense of belonging and camaraderie among the boys. ‘The staff supply the fuel to the ship but ultimately it is the boys who steer it and decide upon its final destination’. Our TGS…
Unlocking Literacy - The Big Six Elements for Your Child’s Reading Success
Literacy skills are a core component of each day for our students, and parents often ask how they can support this from home. I am delighted to share with our parent community the essential components that underpin successful reading development. These elements, known as the Big Six, provide a solid foundation for your son’s literacy journey. These critical building blocks include: Oral Language: Communication skills are the bedrock of reading. Encourage rich conversations with your child.…
The Journey of a Boarding Mother
When you look up mother in the dictionary it reads: female parent of a child. When you look up boarder, it simply reads: a child who lives away from home. So, put “boarder mother” together and we have: the female parent of a child who lives away from home – if only it were that simple. My definition of boarding mother is: a strong, dedicated unbelievably great female parent of a child who has the wisdom to put her son’s educational needs, wellbeing and lifelong endeavours before her own. A…
The Importance of Differentiation
As parents, we all want our children to have the best possible education, and one of the most effective ways for teachers to provide this is through differentiation. Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs and interests of each student, and it can take many forms. First, let's define differentiation. Differentiation is a teaching approach that recognises that students have different strengths, interests, and learning styles. By adjusting instruction to meet these…
Addressing Anger in Teenage Boys
As a community dedicated to the growth and well-being of our teenage boys, it is essential to address the complexities of emotions we experience during adolescence. Among these emotions, anger stands out as a powerful and intense feeling that can influence their behaviour, relationships and overall wellbeing. Untreated anger can lead to a myriad of problems and challenges for our young boys. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the dangers of untreated anger, ways to support healthy…
Study Skills Program
Just as teachers benefit from an understanding of the Learning Sciences in their lesson planning and preparation, so to do students when they are studying for major summative assessments. A survey of TGS students in Years 9 to 12 found that 70% of our boys felt that they knew how to study, with the biggest impediments to study being lack of motivation and too many distractions. The most highly preferred study technique was found to be rewriting notes. Cramming, rereading the text and rewriting…
Developing Teachers Worldwide
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Annual Conference at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in my capacity as a Team Leader in the IBSC Action Research Program. Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers in their own classroom to better understand the impact that an aspect of their practice is having on their students. Each year, 40 teachers from IBSC member schools from around the world are accepted…
Developing a Sense of Belonging for our TGS Boarders
How do we adequately develop a teenager’s 'sense of belonging' in boarding? Head of Boyce House, Boarding, Mr Michael Hall has investigated how 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' applies to boarding. It is a psychological theory that suggests human beings have a set of fundamental needs that must be fulfilled in a hierarchical order. The theory proposes that individuals must first satisfy their physiological needs before moving on to higher-level needs, such as the 'belongingness' that is so…
Kia Moemoeā – Dream Beyond Limits
A 12-year study has found that boys consistently perform better in an all boys’ school compared to boys in co-educational schools. This was one of several interesting topics presented at the recent International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Conference in Auckland, New Zealand which I attended alongside three of my Toowoomba Grammar School colleagues – Mr Luke Rawle, Mr Dave Klan and Mrs Jessica Galbraith. We joined 600 leading educators from 15 countries around the world for the four-day…
