Cultivating Wellness
May 2023
Tips, Encouragement, and Support for Parents and Educators
Light The Way to Better Health
As warmer weather approaches, Michiganders begin to emerge from their winter hibernation. Shaking off those winter blues and rainy days will rejuvenate your mind and body. You will start to see neighbors in their yards, kids riding bikes, and more people on the hiking trails. With longer days and more sunshine, you might find yourself more motivated to engage in social and physical activities. According to WebMD, this is because sunlight boosts energy levels and makes you feel more positive.
After months of gloomy skies and isolation in our homes, we long for movement and connections with others. The social interaction and physical activity we seek has many health benefits. Socializing, especially in person, can improve happiness, memory, and cognitive skills (Mayo Clinic). Physical movement can reduce feelings of anxiety and improve overall health (CDC). The increase of sunlight into our daily lives creates a positive spiraling effect leading to better physical and emotional health.
There are many ways to get moving while socializing and soaking up the sunshine. Group classes or exercising with a peer can help you maintain your motivation and enjoyment while improving your health. Taking the kids to the park with other parents and their children can provide support and a sounding board. Walking the dog with a friend encourages communication and connection to parents and others whose company you enjoy. These effortless ways to get out there and get moving will help you increase your social, emotional, and physical health.
Here are a few tips from Verywell to get you started.
- Play a Sport
- Find a Buddy
- Exercise for a Charity
- Join a Class
The Local Connection
Looking to get your dose of vitamin D while connecting with others? Here is a list of things you can do in and around Genesee County. Most activities are free or low cost.
Resources for Your Mind, Body, and Family
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness-Genesee County Chapter provides free support groups to families and individuals, both in-person and online. Click the link to learn more!
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Asking for help is a strength! The National Parent Helpline can connect you with someone who will provide emotional support, help you solve problems, and help you connect to local resources. Visit here to learn more!
- Self Care Ideas
- The State of Michigan has created a Stay Well program that encourages individuals to be kind to their mind by providing access to support groups, helplines, webinars, behavioral health guides, and video resources. The Mindfulness and Stress Resilience Guide is one tool provided. Click the link to learn more.
- Michigan 211 helps to connect individuals to a variety of services, including mental health providers.
Community Resource Spotlight: Explore Flint & Genesee
Cultivating Staff Wellness: A Holistic Approach
Supporting the whole child starts with supporting all the adults involved in the educational process. From direct providers, such as teachers and paraprofessionals, to those indirectly involved with student success (business, transportation, operations, human resources, etc.), a need for optimal self-care is shared to bring our best self to work each day.
The GISD has taken steps to develop a customizable wellness toolkit available to staff throughout Genesee County schools, programs, and GISD departments. This toolkit has been created to help administrators and managers implement and create sustainable staff wellness initiatives. While resources are often spread thin and opportunities for added programs may be far and few between, one key for programs and departments is to start where they are and commit to intentional moves toward creating and sustaining a culture of wellness.
The Cultivating Staff Wellness (CSW) Toolkit is based on SAMHSA’s Eight Dimensions of Wellness: emotional, physical, spiritual, environmental, occupational, financial, intellectual, and social. Complete the Cultivating Staff Wellness Registration Form so that your school, program, or department can access the CSW Toolkit.
GISD 31n Mental Health Team
To learn more about health and wellness for teachers, students, and families, check out our page on the GISD website.