Wokingham Wellbeing MOOC

This weeks challenge is to get active.  To maintain a basic level of health young people aged 5 to 18 need to do: at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day – this should range from   moderate activity , such as cycling and playground activities, to  vigorous activity , such as running and tennis on three days a week, these activities should involve  exercises for strong muscles , such as push-ups, and  exercises for strong bones , such as jumping and running Read more  here . This week you need to keep a get active diary, writing down how much exercise you do on each day. If you haven't done enough try something new. There are tonnes of workouts on youtube, from yoga to Hiit training. Or free fitness apps like 7minuteworkout, which helps to build muscle and core strength. At the end the week share your diary in the comments below along with any inspirational sweaty workou...

This week your challenge is to try meditation. The purpose of meditation is to make our mind calm and peaceful. If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort, and so we will experience true happiness; but if our mind is not peaceful, we will find it very difficult to be happy, even if we are living in the very best conditions. If we train in meditation, our mind will gradually become more and more peaceful, and we will experience a purer and purer form of happiness. Eventually, we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances. (taken from here ) To get you started have a look at the video below: Back to basics meditation for beginners. Aim to try meditating at least 3 times this week.  In the comment section below write down i) how you found meditation ii) how you felt after meditating iii) any links for other good guided meditation videos you find online. If you're willing to share your answe...

Your challenge this week is to play a board game or card game with your family or friends. The challenge should be completed outside of school and more importantly no mobile phones allowed! Put them on silent, collect them in a bowl with a penalty for the first person to remove thiers!  Here's a few suggestions for card games  incase you need to "keep learning" on this challenge too! In the comment section below share i) what you played ii) who you played it with iii) what the phone penalty was and iv) how you felt during and after the challenge. 

This weeks challenge is to learn a little of a new language. You can download the app or do it online here . You could choose from Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Russian, Swedish, Swahili, Polish, Greek, Romanian, Esperanto, Turkish, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Norwegian, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Welsh. Add an extra connect challenge to the week: Throughout the week try to greet people in your chosen language as possible. Teach them some of what you've learnt. At the end of the week write a sentence in your chosen foreign language in the comments below, with the English translation! (No google translate please!) Print and share on the Wellbeing Window/ Wall if you're proud of your new learning.

Your challenge this week is to connect to a stranger you wouldn't normally talk to and offer them help or a listening ear. Keep an eye out for someone that looks sad, lonely, lost or in need of help.  To complete this challenge you need to submit two comments, one before your connection and one after. Before you start the challenge think about how you would start a conversation that would make a stranger feel comfortable and any topics of conversation that would encourage them to open up. Consider using open questions rather than closed questions (read more here ) Think about how you would want to leave the conversation. Put your thoughts in the comments below. After your connection summarise i) what you did, ii) how it went, and iii) how it made you feel. If you are happy to share your experience print it and add it to the  Wellbeing Window/ Wall.

For this challenge you need a smart phone, pencil and someone to keep you company. You are going geocaching! If you don't know what it is find out (It's a bit like pokemon go, without the pokemon and there are actual things hidden to find).  This is the  official website .  You need to download the free app before you go. Take a photo of you and your partner with the geocache and upload to the comments section below along with a couple of sentences about how you found the experience. Print and add your experience to the  Wellbeing Window/ Wall if you want to share.

This week your challenge is to learn something new. Find the instructions for an origami plant or animal of your choice and create it! If you have some experience with origami try something more challenging, if you're  new to it perhaps try something classic, like the crane. To find out how origami can help wellbeing have a look here . Share the tutorial you used and a photo of your creation in the comments below. Blue tack your finished origami creation to the  Wellbeing Window/ Wall

Inspired by the instagram phenomenon 100happydays your challenge is to take 1 photo, each day, for the next 7 days, of something that makes you happy!  It can be anything from a meet-up with a friend to a very tasty cake, a beautiful tree on your walk to school, or your view from bed. Take notice of the small things that make you happy, and do more of them! Put your photos into a collage and a post them in the comments below. Print the collage and stick onto the  Wellbeing Window/ Wall. To find out about more 100happydays watch this TED talk from the founder  Dmitry Golubnichy ,  visit the website here , or search #100happydays on instagram.

Welcome to the Wokingham Wellbeing Project! Over the next 10 weeks you will be set a series of challenges to improve and explore your understanding of your personal wellbeing. The New Economics Foundation states "the  concept of wellbeing comprises two main elements: feeling good and functioning well. Feelings of happiness, contentment, enjoyment, curiosity and engagement are characteristic of someone who has a positive experience of their life. Equally important for wellbeing is our functioning in the world. Experiencing positive relationships, having some control over one’s life and having a sense of purpose are all important attributes of wellbeing." Their evidence suggests even a small increase in wellbeing can help to decrease some mental health issues and also help people flourish.  They have identified 5 areas to help improve your wellbeing. You're challenges will fall into one these areas, or might span a couple of areas. To see a brief overview of th...