Wellbeing Update
In the Wellbeing team, we like to explore different activities to assess their impact on wellbeing and share our experiences with other students. Charles and Boyan decided to swap routines - Boyan has been going to the gym regularly for two years and Charles has journaled consistently for four months. They aimed to offer each other the same advice they would give to a beginner.
Charles’ experience working out
Charles’ experience
Over the past three months, I have really enjoyed going to the gym. I aimed for twice a week, although it was sometimes difficult to maintain. I initially started with my mum, who regularly attends the gym, and it became a great way for us to bond, improving our relationship and benefiting my mental health. After the holidays, I also began working out at the school gym with friends, including Boyan, who gave me advice on planning sessions and proper technique. Training with friends made the experience more enjoyable, and I gradually noticed improvements in my strength and confidence. Overall, this has been a rewarding experience, boosting both my physical and mental wellbeing.
Here’s what Boyan thought of Charles’ experience...
From my perspective, Charles has done well in sticking to his schedule and putting in real effort. Going with his mum was a smart approach, making the experience less intimidating. For those without a regular gym partner, I’d encourage you not to worry about feeling out of place - it’s perfectly normal to feel unsure at first. Most people start that way, and asking for help or taking things slow is completely fine. There are plenty of supportive people at the gym and useful resources online. I’m proud of Charles’ progress, especially his willingness to seek advice and his consistency.
Boyan’s experience with journaling
Boyan’s experience
Over the past few months, I took up journaling while Charles focused on working out. I aimed to journal around twice a week, writing at the end of the day to reflect on significant events and my thoughts after some time to process them. I also included small doodles to work on my art skills. To get started, I bought a Hokusai Great Wave journal to make the process more exciting. I enjoyed filtering through the day’s events, deciding what was worth recording. Looking back at my entries, I noticed how frequently I used “I” - phrases like “I think,” “I want,” and “I will” - which highlighted the personal, self-reflective nature of journaling. For me, the value of this experience was in the deeper self-awareness it fostered.
Midway through, Charles shared his entries from the Christmas break, which gave me new ideas. His style was much more detailed and structured, recounting most of his day and the emotions he felt in the moment. In contrast, my entries were more creative, blending in hobbies like drawing and poetry. This showed me how flexible journaling can be - it can be methodical and thorough, or more freeform and artistic. Either way, it offers a valuable way to reflect and grow. If you’re curious, I’d recommend trying it out for a few weeks and making it your own.
Here’s what Charles thought of Boyan’s experience...
I am genuinely proud of Boyan’s dedication to journaling. He’s clearly put a lot of thought and creativity into it, using it as a tool for self-discovery. Journaling is a powerful way to reflect on your feelings and experiences, whether daily, weekly, or monthly. Just remember that it’s a personal space - free from judgement or external influence. It should be your own private outlet to express yourself freely.
Conclusion
Overall, we hope this glimpse into two very different activities has inspired you to try something new. While building consistency and getting started with hobbies like these can be challenging at first, we genuinely believe that with a bit of discipline, anyone can pick them up - and they might even help you develop that discipline along the way. That said, there’s no pressure to take up either activity. These are simply ideas for those looking to boost their mental or physical wellbeing.
For us, doing both has been incredibly rewarding, and we’ll definitely be continuing them. So, next time you’re free after school, why not check the gym timetable and drop by the school gym to give it a go? Or if you find yourself with some spare time, break the cycle of boredom by writing a journal entry - all you need is a piece of paper/ something to type on. You never know - you might discover a new passion.