Mental and emotional wellbeing
Refresh your mind / Whāngaia tō hinengaro
Today's whakataukī: Ki te wātea te hinengaro, me te kaha rere o te wairua, ka tāea ngā mea katoa / When the mind is free and the spirit is willing, anything is possible.
What is taha hinengaro?
Taha hinengaro is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts and feelings. Just like your physical health, your hinengaro needs to be nurtured. Hinengaro is what you do to stimulate and refresh your mind so you can better cope with the ups and downs of life.
Why is taha hinengaro an important way to wellbeing?
Taking care of taha hinengaro is important for everyone, regardless of whether or not you’ve experienced mental illness or distress. When your taha hinengaro is strong, you can express your feelings and reach out for support from friends, whānau and hoamahi/colleagues if you need to.
Reimagining wellbeing through taha hinengaro
Schools and kura |
- Ask tauira/students to take five to think of five positive thoughts or good things that have happened this week.
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- Create a compliments jar and ask tauira to write compliments or notes of aroha to their classmates. Kaiako/teachers and other staff can do this too! It’s a nice idea to read these aloud at the end of the day or week.
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- If tamariki or tauira are feeling restless or over–energised, head outside for five minutes and encourage them to take deep, slow breaths and listen to the sounds of nature.
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Workplaces |
- Reflect on the challenges you overcame as a team and what what strengths you discovered.
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- Map your daily energy levels – when do you feel most energy? Morning or afternoon?
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- Try something new or rediscover an old interest (e.g. the guitar!).
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Whānau, communities and individuals |
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- Practice gratitude and write down three things you’re grateful for.
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- Read books that talk about feelings and emotions. Buy them online or head to the library!
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Photo Credit:@britmuminnz