Buying In to Well-being

10/9/2018

Imagine you’re writing a test - a really important test - at 8:30 a.m. You’ve got two and a half hours to get yourself ready. How do you make the most of them?

In his first address to Greenwood students on October 1, Dr. Greg Wells asked students to envision this very scenario. Then, he walked them through every moment of that 2.5 hours, giving them recommendations on everything from sleep to nutrition to activity. The end goal? Walking into the classroom calm, energized and focused.

Here’s the schedule Dr. Wells recommended for an 8:30 test:

Wake up at 6 a.m.
Shower with HOT water (finish with 30 seconds of cold on the back of the neck to boost energy levels)
Bring any needed supplies downstairs
Eat breakfast (3-4 eggs, avocado and green veggies is a great option)
Drink water and green tea (caffeine is best consumed 30-60 minutes before the test)
Arrive at school at 7:30 a.m.
Go for a hard 5-10 minute walk (exercise improves mental performance)
Go inside at 7:45 a.m.
Relax
Sip more water
Ace the test!

Dr. Wells provided students with the background research supporting his recommendations at each step, including brain scans and clinical studies.

His presentation also formed the basis for the first Well-being Wednesday session of the year. During their scheduled Adviser period, students reflected on what Dr. Wells told them at assembly and learned more about Greenwood’s health and well-being program. Wednesday Adviser periods will be used to deliver this program - which Dr. Wells is crafting for Greenwood based on student feedback - throughout the year.

Read the full summary of Dr. Wells’ presentation here.

Check out our previous blog posts to learn more about health and well-being at Greenwood.

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Greenwood College School

443 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, ON M4S 2L8
Tel: 416 482 9811

We acknowledge with gratitude the Ancestral lands upon which our main campus is situated. These lands are the Ancestral territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Anishinabek and the Wendake. The shared responsibility of this land is honoured in the Dish with One Spoon Treaty and as settlers, we strive to care for the land, the waters, and all creatures in the spirit of peace. We are responsible for respecting and supporting the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. When away from this campus we vow to be respectful to the land by protecting and honouring it. We will create relationships with the people and the land we may visit by understanding the territories we enter and the nations who inhabit them.