COMMUNITY WELLNESS IN THE WORKS is authored by Ms. Cailyn Givary, District SELect Leader, and Ms. Tiffany Steiner, Director of Intervention Services and Student Wellness.

The month of January is dedicated to the exploration of the mindset, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE teaches that everything that exists was once an idea that someone believed was possible, and through that belief it became a reality.

Through this mindset, we learn to envision a wonderful life, expect greatness, and effectively execute the process of making dreams come true. In doing so, we plan the small steps to take every day on the road to our dreams. We embrace creativity and imaginations, look on the bright side of things, and turn mistakes or setbacks into opportunities.

4 Key Components:

• Dream Big

• Embrace Creativity

• Think Positive

• Act and Adjust

Carol Dweck is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and one of the world’s leading researchers on motivation and mindsets. Her book, Mindset: The Psychology of Success, has sold over a million copies.

Brief Summary:

A growth mindset is a perspective that shapes how individuals perceive challenges and setbacks. Those who possess a growth mindset firmly believe that their abilities are not fixed, even if they encounter difficulties in certain skills. They hold the belief that through dedicated effort, their skills can be enhanced over time. Embracing a growth mindset yields tangible advantages, as it allows individuals to reframe their approach to challenges and maintain motivation to cultivate their abilities. Instead of succumbing to the notion of "I can't do this," individuals with a growth mindset adopt the mentality of "I can't do it yet." EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

According to UCLA studies in mental health, the science behind pet therapy proves it is highly effective! Here are a few details from their work.

• The simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response.
  • Humans interacting with animals have found that petting the animal promoted the release of serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin- all hormones that can play a part in elevating moods.
• Lowers anxiety and helps people relax.
• Provides comfort.
• Reduces loneliness.
• Increases mental stimulation.
  • Assist in recall of memories and help sequence temporal events in patients with head injuries or chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
• Can provide an escape or happy distraction.

Central School students had a heartwarming visit with therapy dogs!

Building Resilience

• Tip 1: Practice acceptance
• Tip 2: Reach out to others
• Tip 3: Invest in self-care
• Tip 4: Look for meaning and purpose
• Tip 5: Stay motivated

Music is a powerful tool we can use in many situations and for many health benefits. Listening to music releases dopamine – one of the happy ‘feel good’ chemicals. This boosts your mood and makes you feel more optimistic. So playing upbeat, happy music first thing in the morning can help set you up for the day.

Below are some recommendations for a "EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE PLAYLIST!

Ms. Steiner's personal favorite pump up artist is the Foo Fighters while Ms. Gilvary prefers Pink. Dr. Handerhan's all time favorite is Donna Summer.

• Old Mill Winter Concert- January 10th 6:00-7:00pm
• WHS Cabaret Night- January 17th 7:00-9:00 pm
• Central School Winter Concert- January 18th 6:00-7:00pm
• Elementary Orchestra Concert at WIS- January 25th 7:00-9:00pm
• WHS Winter Band Concert- January 31st 7:00-9:00pm

Here are just a few technology applications and tips to help you stay on track to meet your New Year’s goals. Remember EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

KEEPING YOUR GOALS VISIBLE

Document your goals, and then take a screenshot of them. Set that screenshot as the lock screen on your phone. Every time you check your phone, your resolutions will be right there.

BUILDING A HEALTHY HABIT: Streaks

The idea behind Streaks is super simple—the more often you’ve successfully completed a habit in the past and built a “streak,” the harder it is to break it. It’s easy to configure, seamless to use, and best of all, looks good.

RUNNING / FITNESS RESOULTIONS: Strava

Strava is an app for tracking your runs. You can set weekly, monthly, and annual mileage targets and share your results with your friends. For motivation, there are also leaderboards for different segments.

JOURNALING RESOLUTION: Five Minute Journal

The Five Minute Journal takes, well, five minutes to do. You answer a few questions about how you feel and what you want to achieve in the morning, a few more about how your day went in the evening, and that’s it.

Will it snow this winter? If it does, will there be enough snow to build a snowman? Instead of leaving it to chance, here are two methods to make a snowless snowman.