Blue Zones Project Kapolei-’Ewa, ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY’s partners in health and wellness, joined IPA parents at Coffee with the Principals this week to talk about “Keeping Your Center in Changing Times.”
Finding ways to stay grounded and keep healthy has been difficult this past year with the changes and disruptions caused by the global pandemic. We have all faced challenges on many fronts – personal, professional, financial, health, and have had to deal with the resulting stress and anxiety. IPA’s principals wanted to provide a way to support our community and invited Megan Yarberry (Organizations Lead – Schools) and Crystal Robello (Engagement Lead – Kapolei ‘Ewa) of Blue Zones Project Hawai’i to speak at their quarterly “Coffee with the Principals” on Wednesday, April 7.
Yarberry provided valuable information about the impacts of stress on our mental and physical well-being, and shared tips and techniques on how to better manage the stress in our lives. She presented an analogy of one’s stress capacity as a bucket. Every day stresses from many areas fill the bucket – some of which we can control, some of which we can’t. Learning to let go of the things we can’t control, and finding positive ways to empty the bucket everyday provide a pathway to better health and well-being.
Robello stressed goal-setting as an effective way to incorporate the Blue Zones Project POWER 9 into daily life for better overall health. She shared the Blues Zones Project POWER 9 Goal Setting Individual Plan worksheet, and walked through her own personal goals as an example.
The take away for the IPA parents, faculty, and staff who attended was that life is stressful, but you are in control and can build your resilience by cultivating positive coping skills and making a plan. Everyone left the discussion with much valuable information and many new tools to use in coping with the stress and challenges of this unprecedented year.
