Northwood celebrated Mental Health Awareness and Sleep for Success Week from April 28 to May 2 to encourage students to prioritize adequate sleep and healthy coping strategies.
The week featured eight activities, including presentations, hands on events and spirit days, which were advertised on NTV and Instagram. It was scheduled right before AP exams so that students could take a break from studying and stress.
“What makes Sleep for Success different from the other events that Northwood has held is the amount of widespread support and concentrated effort going into the activities,” mental health counselor Steve Lo said. “I love that we have so many different groups collaborating with each other and trying to engage with the student body, in a way that’s both fun and meaningful to everyone’s health.”
The event was inspired by a Challenge Success survey that found sleeping past midnight resulted in increased tardiness, missed classes and under-productivity for Northwood students.
To combat that, Children’s Hospital of Orange County psychologists and Orange County Department of Education representatives presented to students on sleep hygiene, drug use and stress management. Mental health counselors, High School Youth Action Team and Thrive Club also passed out kits with sleep masks, tea bags and lavender pouches throughout the week.
“Sometimes our brains stay awake at night because we’re so stressed with tests and school, but you have to remind yourself that it’s okay to be vulnerable and relax, especially in the middle of the night,” CHOC psychologist Kevin Rowen said during the presentation. “I know this is really hard to do, especially when you’re in high school, but it really affects our brains and our ability to wind down.”
Mentors from Body & Brain Yoga & Tai Chi taught students different Tai Chi exercises on April 30, which combined martial arts with meditation and balance. To stimulate student creativity, Thrive Club and ASB also arranged for students to decorate their own planners and rocks by The Oak. Students wrote a goal on one side and drew a picture on the other.
“My favorite activity was rock painting because I was excited to see all the different artworks and now I have a colorful rock to take home,” Thrive Club vice president senior Karen Young said. “A lot of students tend to push themselves to be better and forget about their mental health, which makes it even more important that we have these interactive activities to remind ourselves to take care of ourselves and our sleep.”
“Bring a Mug Day” was brought back on May 1 by Freshman Class Council after its success in last year’s “Part of the Pack” spirit week. Tea was added this year to the list of available drinks to fit the theme. It was accompanied by “Bring a Stuffed Animal Day” on May 2 and a school-wide playlist that students could add songs to.
“I really like the sleep playlist because it’s pretty interactive and cool that students from all over the school—even kids you don’t know—can work on something together that’s fun and also productive for our sleep,” Thrive Club member junior Christopher Covrig said.
Lo hopes to continue collaborating with CHOC to host more mindfulness events. Students can also visit The Well, which is open during break, lunch and tutorial. A counselor’s permission is needed to use The Well during class.
“I hope these events create greater awareness about mental health and the importance of taking care of your mind,” Lo said. “The real recipe for success isn’t staying up into the wee hours of the night but making sure we have enough rest to concentrate and enough energy to have fun and interact with others.”
