Students and adults alike should take a moment to stop, think, and participate on Wellness Wednesday.
Wellness Wednesday is a weekly event that EF hosts. Every week, students engage in a variety of activities. For example, earlier in the semester EF hosted a “digital detox” session in the residence halls. To get students to engage with something or someone other than their electronic devices, Ms. Torres provided coloring papers, conversation cards, and puzzles. All of those activities are beneficial to students’ well-being. Painting, for instance, can be a calming and meditative activity that offers a respite from the stresses and diversions of everyday life.
Building on this activity, EF invited Eduardo Lara, a guest speaker from Harvard’s Center for Digital Thriving, to campus on Wednesday October 23rd to discuss a recent study on social media and teen fatigue with student moderators.
EF also organized the successful Wellness Fair on November 13th, with over 20 booths offering various activities for students to learn and enjoy. Each booth educated students about physical and mental wellbeing, and offered advice on how to deal with mental health issues.
Wellness Wednesday events are usually located in the dorms, Cena or Cena Quad, depending on what the activity is and what is needed for the space. Ms. Torres makes every effort to switch between enjoyable and relaxing activities and practical and helpful ones.
According to Kim N., an 11th grader, “Wellness Wednesdays are meant to help students unwind and think about their mental health to see if they have any problems. Based on the exercises, I believe students will feel more at ease and be more creative.”
“Tie-dye shirts are the activity that I remember the most, Kim L., an 11th grader, said, “because they are really creative and enjoyable for me. Wellness Wednesday, in my opinion, is beneficial since it gives us something to do and a chance to unwind without having to do any homework.”
Wellness Wednesday is a time for both students and adults to pause, reflect, and engage in low-stakes activities that help us stay energized and focused for the rest of the week, according to Ms. Danielle, a house parent. “Various activities will take place at Wellness Wednesday events,” Ms. Danielle said, “I think Wellness Wednesday was chosen as a break in the middle of the academic week instead of a study hall, where students can focus on themselves, their wellness, and have the option to engage with activities on campus to focus on wellness. The effectiveness of Wellness Wednesday activities is evaluated by the number of students that have joined the activities and the engagement of the students during the activities, as well as seeing a positive impact in the community.”
Each week’s activities are thoughtfully planned by staff and faculty to assist students to feel more at ease with the challenges they face. Wellbeing Wednesday always welcomes you, whether your goal is to unwind after school or something else entirely. Please do not hesitate to join in this activity as it is planned for the benefit and mental wellness of pupils.
