Last Monday was World Gratitude Day, a day to celebrate this appreciation and being grateful for the things around you. World Gratitude Day started in Hawaii in 1965 and has grown ever since. It’s intended to bring the world together to reflect on what makes them grateful and challenges us to share this gratitude.

Take a look at some of the ways that you can express gratitude below!

Say it with words

Have a chat with someone! Let them know you are grateful for them and tell them why. Catch up with a friend over a coffee or by doing something you love together and be intentional with your interaction. Use the moment to express your gratitude.

Write a thank-you note

Don’t want to say it with words? Why not write it down in a thank you note for a friend. Get out some cute paper and pens and put your thoughts into writing. Leave it somewhere they will find it.

Take a moment to reflect

Slow down for a moment. Take note of everything around you that you are grateful for. Go for a walk or find a nice lookout and be present in the moment. Take note of what is going on around you. Maybe even detail what you observe in a journal.

Random act of kindness

Actions speak louder than words! Pay it forward by doing a random act of kindness for someone you are grateful for. It could be a bit of baking for a friend or helping your family around the house. Every little action no matter how small can help and make a difference for those around you!

These are just some ideas of what you can do to express gratitude for the world around you! Let us know any other ways you like to express gratitude.

Looking for more ways to practise gratitude?

Gratitude is all around us but sometimes finding the ways to bring it into our life can be a bit tricky.

Practising gratitude and exploring ways in which we choose to be grateful is an essential part of expanding our personal sense of wellbeing. At Burn Bright, we’ve compiled our experience of exploring wellbeing with over 75,000 young people into a digital course you can access right now. Covering topics like values, relationships, self esteem and wellbeing – these courses are an all-in-one interactive experience for your young person to explore wellbeing in their life.

If you’d like to learn more about this course, click here to read more.

Going into the new year I knew some things in my life had to change. Before this camp, I was someone who prioritised just about anything over myself and what I knew was going to be good for me. I struggled a lot with self-sabotage and understanding why I would constantly set myself back in life.

I was quite a popular, outgoing and confident girl with lots of friends who I loved to go out with, I prioritised partying with my girls over most things, often overlooking my family and taking “fun” too far. I had developed a reputation as someone who didn’t behave and had a serious attitude, I was very shut off and unwelcoming to most people outside of my group. I had a complete lack of care for anything and anyone including myself.

I had known for a while that my behaviour needed to improve. I wasn’t standing by my core values and beliefs which as a result had seriously strained my relationship with my family. I wanted to be myself again and prove not only to myself but to others that I was capable of pursuing my goals and turning my life around, but I didn’t feel like I knew where to start.
One of the teachers at my school was the first to introduce me to this camp and I, being the incredibly stubborn person I am, wasn’t overly excited about the thought of spending four days of the summer holidays back at school. I was reluctant but one of the Burn Bright crew said I had to buy them lunch if I didn’t sign up, that was enough for me to finally just do it.

I knew this camp wasn’t something I would be expected to participate in. Honestly, I even shocked myself by signing up. Although I may have been pushed into it unwillingly at the beginning, I can confidently say that although I am not sure what happened to me, it has changed my life for the better. It was the push I needed to step into a new chapter of my life.
When people ask me what singular experience happened at camp that was so influential to me, I struggle to find the words to explain because I am not too sure myself.

But if I could summarise all that I learnt in 2020 that had such an effect on my life these would be the four points:

1. To open up and allow myself to be vulnerable
2. You are not defined by nor need to fit into any stereotypes or reputation
3. Own my actions
4. Prioritise my happiness and future

These four things have impacted all aspects of my life, no one single factor was the reason for my success so far this year, everything I learned had a positive knock-on effect, on not only my behaviour but my outlook and thought processes.

I didn’t like my reputation of the typical “party girl” that I was thought to be. I had reached a point where I did not want to be limited by my past wrongdoings, I have made mistakes in my past but there is far more to me than just what I have done wrong. The first step to challenge this reputation was simply taking part in camp and showing up on the first day. This camp was the first time I had allowed myself to be vulnerable. Opening up to my group, I was hit with the realization that I had been missing out on beautiful friendships with so many people because I hadn’t been vulnerable and therefore wasn’t an easy person to approach. It was a pivotal moment in my life when the Burn Bright team and my group accepted that I had made mistakes but they, to my surprise, were still willing to get to know me.

It made me realise that for things to change at school, I had to open myself up to more people and be vulnerable so my teachers and peers could see that there was more to me than just the “party girl” I was perceived to be. Whilst I still do love having fun with my friends, I have been determined to make sure I don’t let history repeat itself.
I have to thank my gorgeous group for not only laughing at my jokes but for creating a safe environment that allowed me to be so open. Because of their warmth and acceptance, I gained the confidence to continue to own my actions and be vulnerable beyond camp. This vulnerability that I now possessed allowed me to be who I am, I didn’t feel like I had to fit my previous persona and I no longer felt limited or judged by my defiant behaviour in the past.

School, in particular, has changed dramatically for me, my effort and as a result, my grades have improved, and I have made so many new friendships I never would’ve thought possible. For someone who hated school so much that I even tried to move in Year 10, to suddenly be thriving was something I don’t think anyone expected.
I prioritised myself and my future for the first time and now I can say I am proud of myself for the progress I have made already this year. My relationships with everyone; family, friends, teachers and most importantly myself have finally reflected the type of person I am. Camp solidified my values, beliefs and the type of woman I want to and am growing up to be and reignited my passion for connecting with people and doing what I love. The environment allowed me to express the person I always have been deep down in all areas of my life. I am eternally grateful to Burn Bright and my school for the experiences I had and the way it impacted my life.

I am truly happy with where I am now.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is unprecedented and it’s confusing and worrying for all of us – causing increased stress, anxiety and fear in many. For people already living with complex mental health issues, the impact of a pandemic like this can be significant.  Physical and psychological impacts of imposed quarantine, self-isolation, physical distancing and separation from loved ones can exacerbate or trigger the symptoms of mental health issues. Personally, having to stay inside/at home for an extended period of time without seeing many of my loved ones has affected me greatly. As young people we endure a busy schedule of school and social lives, sports and possibly jobs – having all of these things taken away can severely impact one’s mental health. I know for me not seeing my friends 5 days a week at school, losing my job of 5 years, no longer being able to see extended family, having my last year of schooling turned upside down and even something as simple as having to spend 2 weeks of school holidays at home! I have to admit, I enjoy a good day in bed watching Brooklyn Nine Nine for the 4th time every once in a while, but when there is nothing else to do, it gets boring. As a result of this I have adapted my routine, found new things I love and tried to keep my mental health stable, being one of the main goals.

Here are 5 practical ways to I have found help to alleviate anxiety, distract my mind and help me cope with this pandemic

Exercise – before self-isolation began, I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t do much exercise, i’d rather scroll through Tik Tok then go for a walk. Yet ever since we have been confined to our homes, I made a pact with my brother that at 4pm every afternoon we would got for a 3km walk. We walk exactly the same route every day, this does not change, some days we might run, some days we walk, depends how we are feeling. It gets us out of the house, he listens to music and I listen to a podcast, yes it’s just a walk, but it is also a break for your brain from screens, news updates and even family members if need be.

Doing what I love – for many individuals, young and old, doing what they love may have been taken away from them due to the restrictions and rules set in place by the government. Personally ‘what I love’ is art, design, graphics and with this abundance of free time I have rediscovered my love for this. Before this pandemic hit I had lost all confidence in my work, yet with experimentation, feedback and a lot of free time, I have found my confidence again.

Maintaining communication – maintaining communication with your loved ones couldn’t be any easier in a technology run world like we have today. I know I struggle with not seeing my best friends every day, going from seeing them 5 days a week to no at all for months has really affected me. Not having them there when I need a laugh or even a hug, yet through apps such as facetime and zoom, communication can still be maintained even when we can’t be with them. I know many families around the country are using Apps such as Zoom to communicate with families that may be spread around the country, even the world. The technology we have access to at our fingertips is so easy to use and you can see your best friends on your phone in seconds, but remember, if you haven’t heard from your friend in a while and you think they might be struggling, send them a text, check in with them, even facetime them. You could make their day

Have a day to myself if needed – this sound silly considering we have to spend every day with our families at home, but sometimes being with your siblings or parents 24-7 can mean butting heads, siblings doing everything in their power to annoy you, and it is times like that when taking time for yourself is needed the most. We should be using this quality time with our family to try and build stronger connections, not tear them down. This may be easier said  than done, but just going to your room for 5 minutes or so to calm down, having a bath, even putting some calm music on can help reduce your stress, anger and diffuse situations.

Turn off the news – every second of the day, we are consumed by news updates and conferences, whether it be on the TV or Facebook, this can have a real impact on mental health and I know it has mine. When you’re watching TV and there is an update, turn it off, if it’s anything important to do with the Virus, you will hear it 50 more times during the day, I’m sure. Find something new to focus your mind on, because watching and listening to news updates, hearing about the horrendous number of deaths around the world, anxiety will start to rise, stress levels too. All we can do is listen and do what the professionals say, stay home and wait till this all passes.

1. Set goals

Settings goals… yes, we’ve all heard it before and I can confidently say we’ve all tried to set them before. Whether it’s a New Years resolution to eat healthier or saving up for a special gadget, we have all tried (and often failed) to genuinely pursue something better.
Firstly, you need to know what you want. Something realistic. Something you CAN do. Something that is measurable. For example, going from doing 10 push-ups to 20.
Next, you want to put it in a time frame. Using the push-up example, you could say you’d want to complete your goal within 4 weeks.
Now lastly, you want to act and organise. Anyone can say “I want to do xyz” or “I could easily do abc”. But it can be especially hard to actually incorporate something into a routine – this is where I like to use a daily planner or even a simple calendar in my phone as it holds me accountable to myself to actually complete the task at hand.

2. Do what is good. Not what is easy.

Now this one is tricky because its all about the right mindset. I don’t know about you, but when I’m rolled up in a blanket watching Netflix I find it virtually impossible to do anything else… even getting food or opening the door for a pet feels like a marathon.

The solution is to know that if you were to take action right now, your life will be better later.
That sounds like a bigger deal than it really is. In practice, it just involves going “yeah nah I should probably do that” and then actually doing it. Because when you leave things hanging and don’t address them, they can snowball up and cause even more chaos. A perfect example is not doing that homework. Leaving it last minute only to find out it was harder than expected results in you either handing it in late, or it being low-quality. And so, I guarantee you that if you address issues when they arise, you will be happier and less stressed.

3. Learn something new.

You’d be surprised by how much you can do from home. It can be as simple as reading a book about butterflies or as complex as learning how to code. My personal recommendations on things to learn (which should all be accessible within the household or online) are..
1. Philosophy: Simply search up philosophy basics, find a particular idea/thought that you think is interesting and learn more about it… there’s endless resources on every topic (It’s also very impressive when you speak about it in class or even at parties, just saying)
2. Song Lyrics: We all have songs which we love so much, yet don’t know the lyrics well enough to sing along. Well now is your chance! I really hope someone who reads this will learn Rap God by Eminem by the time isolation ends.
3. Arts and Crafts: Self-explanatory, learning how to make origami is a massive flex.
4. Cooking: I am shocking at cooking. So there’s no better time to learn how to make either a super simple omelette, or an extravagant roast dinner than right now when I can’t go to restaurants and the bank account doesn’t enjoy Uber Eats.

4. Build routine.

This one is a bit more simple, but I think it is easily the most important thing to incorporate into your day-to-day lives. Including routine in your life holds you accountable for your actions and prevents you from being lazy.
Step one: Wake up the same time every day — This is crucial as it sets your body clock in order which will make you more productive and eager to do stuff during the day.
Step two: Make your bed and get changed — If your room is a mess, odds are most other things around you will be too… I want you to actually do something during the day, so getting changed out of your pyjamas not only gets you in the right frame of mind, but also prevents you from retreating back to bed or your couch
Step three: Block out your day — Again, this is why I have a daily planner, it helps me sort out what I want to do and ensures that I don’t forget anything.

So there it is.
4 tips to staying motivated. These times are not very fun, but that doesn’t mean we pause our lives and retreat into bed to eat and watch Netflix for a few months. Anyone has the ability to come out of isolation as a healthy, intelligent and positive person, ready to explore and challenge the world.

To the class of 2020, coming into our final year of high school under the covid-19 rules school is just not quite the same. At this unusual time, many students will be undertaking online learning which for many of us it will be a different approach to our usual learning. Being at home while completing work can become distracting, unmotivating and stressful when the work starts to pile up. One thing we don’t want to happen is to be stressed in our final year of highschool.

Throughout this blog post I will give 4 tips that have helped me tackle my final year of highschool through lockdown or isolation.

1.  My first tip would be to stay organised. Being organised is definitely the key to achieving what you want. Make a calendar or schedule and write down your classes for everyday. A way I find myself being more productive is to make things look pretty (sounds silly I know) but to colour coordinate each subject a different colour. For example, english is pink and then I know I have to complete that on that particular day etc. Another tip I find useful to being more productive and organised is making a to-do list. This is a very simple way to get school work done by writing it down and the due date so you can work backwards and write down how much time you are going to need to complete your work. Have a tidy desk or work space, put your phone on silent and remove any other distractions you may have around you to keep your focus clear.

2. Stay self-motivated. Being stuck at home, it is something that as students we have never gone through before so everyone has to have the adaptability to work from home. This includes whether or not you are a day student or a boarder. If you are a boarder, a tip I would suggest is that you keep routine and do prep the same time you usually would at the hostel. If you are a day student, making a routine you stick to daily will help you have the motivation to do your work. Staying motivated is different for everyone, some people may be more motivated than others you just have to have a positive mindset. Another tip I would suggest to keep motivated is to find your drive. Think about the things that make you want to do your work. Credits, to feel a sense of achievement or simply just to get good marks. For example, a thing that is going to keep me motivated during lockdown, especially in my last year of highschool is getting enough credits that pass university criteria that will get me into my chosen courses.

3. stay connected with your peers. This is the final year everyone will be together, before everyone makes their own decisions on what they want to do after high school. As we aren’t able to be sitting in class in front of a teacher or next to our peers, messaging our friends for help before emailing a teacher is a lot quicker. Your friends may also be able to explain it in a way that you would understand it. Even though we have to keep our distance, flicking your mates a text message asking how they are or what they are upto only takes 2 minutes out of your day. Also connecting via Zoom, Houseparty and Facetime are good ways to see your friends. You could use this time for studying together or working on a project you may have been doing at school. 

4. Stop stressing.  We are all in the same boat. Stressing about school work often leads to procrastination which means school work is put off and you stress about it for longer. A way to not be stressed is to take breaks for yourself. For example, a way I find is really helpful is to set a timer for an hour at which I do work then I have a 15-30 minute break doing whatever I choose. Some ideas could be doing some exercise, making a snack or scrolling through online shopping…Something I am doing during lockdown on top of all my school work is volunteering in my local community called the “Student Army” it is an organisation that helps deliver groceries and medical supplies to people over 70. This is something that is totally not school related but enables me to have a break from my desk and give help to others around me. 

Overall, during lockdown we still have to do school work and complete our final year of highschool whether we like it or not. It is different but I strongly believe that if you put your mind to it you are able to achieve anything you want. Find your drive and do the best you can. I hope you are able to take something away from these 4 tips and just enjoy the rest of 2020!. 

Start now, not tomorrow.

Written by, Beth Anderson, National Leadership Camp 2019 attendee.

Netflix Party
Using the chrome extension you can now watch Netflix at the same time as your friends! You can pause and start the movie or TV show at the same time so you can make sure you’re in sync with them. Check out the extension here: Netflix Party Chrome Extension

Dinner Parties via FaceTime
Have dinner with your friends over FaceTime. Set up your phone in front of you while you eat and it’s almost like you’re having friends over for dinner. Remember those good old dinner party days. If you’re looking for some nice chill background music, we would recommend our Burn Bright’s Chilled Music playlist on Spotify.

Do a YouTube Workout Together
Do an at-home workout on YouTube at the same time as your friends to stay active and social! The endorphins will make you feel great too. Our personal favourite is the Fitness Marshall. Check out his stuff here.

Online Gaming
There is no shortage of options when it comes to games to play online together and even if you don’t have a console like an XBOX or PlayStation, you can play multiplayer from your computer or phone too! Great way to check in with your friends and hang out for a bit.

Bake Off
Have a cooking competition over FaceTime. Set a dish that you are both going to prepare and get baking. See who can make it the best! Disclaimer: Baking means you may be incredibly tempted to eat your creation in the following days. We are not responsible for your eating habits. Also save us some 🙂

Do your best to check in with those around you who may be struggling and support them as best you can as safely as possible.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, because this is an opportunity. Now, everyone has the opportunity to make the most of this newfound time. I know many young people travel to school, university or Tafe which may usually include an hour of public transport in the morning. This means you are now saving two hours every day! Or maybe you are working less hours, so you have an extra five hours a week up your sleeve. So, what are you going to do with all this spare time? These are the top three thoughts about what to do in social isolation.

1. Be productive: For many young people, particularly those in Year 12, the way the school year looks will be different to usual. If you’re like me and find yourself getting stressed about schoolwork, now is a great time to dedicate an extra 15-minutes to half an hour each day, simply writing notes or reading over the content from your online classes. When you think about it, you aren’t wasting any time, but you are using time that you otherwise would not have had. Take the opportunity to be productive!
2. Find something you’re passionate about: A lot of people have passions, whether it be music, art, sport or another fun activity. However, some of these such as sports have been impacted by social distancing measures. But this is an opportunity to find other things that you enjoy. Some hobbies you could try include baking, reading, drawing, writing, virtual sports, jigsaw puzzles or learning dad jokes to whip out when others are having a bad day.
3. Stay active: I know this may seem like a difficult feat at first, most sports are cancelled, and gyms are closed, however that doesn’t have to prevent you from keeping active. Activities such as yoga and Zumba can be learnt via YouTube tutorials. This is a great way to get you out of your chair and get your blood flowing. If these activities aren’t so much your style, now could be a great chance to turn your backyard into a gym without equipment. There are plenty of workouts which can be done using only your own bodyweight so you can get the same gym feeling, from the comfort of your own home.

Regardless of your situation, the main thing to avoid is distancing yourself, from yourself. Making sure you look after your health and mindset by being productive, doing things you’re passionate about and keeping active is vital to thriving in social isolation.

Written by: Jemma Newton, Burn Bright Intern 2020.