CHILL LAB 超正常研究室 – 關注青少年的精神健康,讓參加者覺察及表達當下的情緒並調適自己

Believe in the possibility of change

In the process of growing up, do you often encounter different difficulties? Do you often wonder if you are capable enough? Trusting yourself of being capable in making changes is not only an affirmation on own potential, but also an expectation for the future. Every effort, every small step, is an important step towards a better you. The possibility of change is always in everyone’s mind. Here are a few suggestions to help us see more clearly and to help change ourselves:

 

  1. Enhancement of own interests

 

Everyone has different area of interests, and the things that you are interested in can bring you endless motivation. You can stay enthusiastic about your interests, keep looking for new ways and techniques to improve yourself, and equip with more skills, which is also a process of changing yourself.

 

  1. Explore own strengths

 

Exploring our strengths is an important self-discovery process that not only boosts our self-confidence, but also helps us to make informed choices in life. Reviewing past experiences, think about the situations in which we have excelled, might give ourselves a great sense of fulfillment. These experiences often reveal our strengths. In addition, asking for feedback from family and close friends can be an effective approach. Their comments and observations give us a clearer picture of our strengths.

 

  1. Recognize own weaknesses

 

It is common for many people to doubt their own abilities, especially when facing new challenges or high-pressure situations, and this feeling of doubt can grow stronger and stronger. However, these self-doubt does not mean that we are useless, but reflects an exploration of our own potential. Believing that we can make a difference starts with learning to accept self-doubt as a motivation to consistently improve ourselves.

 

  1. Don’t let negative emotions dominate

 

Recognizing one’s own shortcomings is a critical step in self-growth. It is only when we are aware of our weaknesses that we are able to formulate effective improvement plans. This does not mean that we have to put ourselves in a position of self-criticism, but we have to face challenges with a positive mindset. Through reflection, we can learn from our failures and improve ourselves. This process of self-awareness allows us to face future difficulties with greater ease and the ability to solve problems, and ultimately, to make a difference.

 

Believing in yourself is an important thing. Hopefully these tips will enable you to get clarity on yourself, and make changes along the way!

The Waxing and Waning of the Moon Can Affect Your Mood

The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, I wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! How do you feel when you admire the moon? Do you feel calm or bring back a trace of memories? The changes of the moon are not only astronomical phenomena, but also comparable to our emotions and mental health. Our emotions are like the moon, which waxes and wanes. People’s emotions always have ups and downs and will not stay in the same state for a long time, so it is necessary to give yourself space to face your emotions. Many people report significant changes in their mood and mental state during the different moon phases. Here’s a look at the different ways the moon affects our emotions.

 

  1. The influence of the moon phase on emotions

– *New Moon*: Symbolizing new beginnings, many people feel energized during this period and are eager to set new goals. This is a time for self-reflection and planning for the future.

– *First Quarter Moon*: Emotions gradually stabilize, and people tend to feel confident and positive, suitable for taking action and facing challenges.

– *Full Moon*: Emotions are at their peak and strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, excitement or uneasiness may occur. Many studies have found that people’s sleep quality decreases during the full moon, leading to mood swings.

– *Last Quarter Moon*: As the moon gradually decreases, emotions become introverted, which is suitable for reflection and release of past emotions, and helps with mental recovery and calmness.

 

  1. Support for scientific research

Some scientific research shows that the moon’s brightness and its periodic changes may affect the body’s biological clock, thereby affecting sleep quality and emotional stability. Especially during full moons, reports of anxiety and insomnia increase, showing the potential impact of the moon on mental health.

 

  1. How to use the phases of the moon to promote mental health

– *Self-Reflection*: Use the New Moon and Waxing Moon periods for self-reflection, writing down goals and emotions to help release and understand inner feelings.

– *SET GOALS*: Set clear goals during the New Moon and take action during the Waxing Moon.

– *Emotional Regulation*: During the full moon, pay attention to emotional fluctuations and learn to regulate emotions using methods such as meditation or deep breathing.

 

The waxing and waning of the moon is closely related to our emotional and mental health. Whenever you look up at the bright moon in the night sky, you might as well think about the inspiration and influence the moon brings to us, and realize the importance of emotional health. Understanding this can help us better understand ourselves, adopt healthy coping strategies, and find emotional balance in our lives.

Building Good Relationships: Tips for Effective Social Interactions

Whether in workplace or daily life, interpersonal relationships are an essential part of our lives, closely tied to our mental health. Having good, healthy relationships can bring happiness and joy, and also make our physical, emotional, and mental well-being more stable. In a supportive and caring environment, we are less likely to feel lonely, anxious, or fearful, and can better recover from illnesses and adversity. To build good relationships, you need appropriate social skills to help you get along with others and gain friendships. Here are some tips:

 

  1. Build One Relationship at One Time

To establish deep and meaningful relationships, you must take the time to understand the other person and share each other’s lives and thoughts. Trying to develop multiple relationships at once can lead to superficial connections. Focus on building one relationship at a time, through regular communication, sharing experiences, and expressing concern. This will help you gradually increase mutual understanding and trust, laying the foundation for true friendships or partnerships.

 

  1. Listen Attentively and Respectfully

During conversations, maintaining an open and patient attitude is crucial. Listen attentively to the other person, without being distracted or preparing own response. Try to understand their thoughts and feelings, giving them ample time to express themselves without interrupting. Even if you disagree, attempt to put yourself in their shoes and listen to their perspective. This allows other people to feel respected and be more willing to listen to you.

 

  1. Avoid Criticizing and Blaming

When interacting with others, avoid judging, analyzing, or categorizing them from the beginning. Regardless of the differences in the point of view, avoid using accusatory or critical language, such as “You shouldn’t…” These words can make others feel attacked, leading to tense and unpleasant communication. To avoid misjudging others, try using neutral or objective language and expressions, like “I understand your perspective is…” to ease the conversation.

 

  1. Show Appreciation and Admiration

Appreciating others is an essential aspect of social interactions. Admiring others is not about flattering or trying to win them over, but about making them smile. When others feel your kindness, they are more likely to treat others with kindness and be more willing to communicate and interact with you, making conversations more enjoyable and harmonious.

 

  1. Don’t Be Afraid to Show Vulnerability

When facing challenges or difficulties, don’t be afraid to show your vulnerability or to seek help. In these moments, be humble and don’t worry about being seen as weak or struggling. When you are willing to be open and honest, others are more likely to open up and offer support, increasing mutual trust and understanding.

 

Building relationships is an art without a formula, and each person has their unique way of communicating and interacting. Hopefully, these tips can help you enjoy the happiness and warmth that comes with social interactions and friendships.

Students feel stressed when go back to school

It is near the end of summer holiday and students will go back to school soon. Some students may feel anxious since there are many changes and unknowns. Let us explore the pressures faced by students when they go back to school, and how they can relieve the stress.

 

Starting the new semester means there are many new changes. Apart from the new courses, there are also new social environments that students need to adapt to. Students may worry about not being able to keep up with the learning progress. They may worry if they can get along with new classmates, they may feel lonely during break time and feel stressful when there is group activity. When facing new things and uncertainties, students tend to feel insecure and anxious.

 

Parents and teachers should pay attention to the emotional changes of students and provide timely emotional support and assistance, especially for those who have the following situations:

 

– resistance to school;

– feeling insecure;

– depressed;

– diarrheas and vomiting;

– unable to concentrate;

– lack of motivation;

– other symptoms of anxiety or depression.

 

Preparation for the start of school can help to reduce the anxiety among children. When it is close to the end of the summer holiday, children can adjust their work and rest time, go to bed early and get up early, it helps children to get back to their regular routine after school starts. In addition, preparing for school supplies and planning for the new semester can also help children to reduce the uncertainties which is good for avoiding them from having anxiety and fear.

 

Some parents may worry about their children’s academic performance and hope that they can study hard early at the beginning of the new semester. However, we should not just focus on academic performance, having a high expectation will put too much pressure on their children. Parents should also listen more about their school life, try to understand how they get along with classmates, or if they have any difficulties at school. These will help parents to provide emotional support to their children and alleviate their stresses.

 

Planning for the new semester in advance, listening to children’s thoughts, and more caring from parents, these all will help children to reduce the stress caused by the unknowns of the new semester and they will be looking forward to the new start and new school life.

Do you know and understand addictive behavior?

Do you know the impact of addictive behavior?

Addictive behaviors are excessive dependence on an activity or substance that may affect an individual’s quality of life and mental health. From a mental health perspective, there are several steps you can take to understand and address these behaviors:

 

  1. Understand addictive behavior

– Definition: Addictive behaviors may include excessive dependence on alcohol, drugs, the Internet, food, gambling, etc.

– Impact: These behaviors can lead to anxiety, depression, social isolation and physical health problems.

 

  1. Identify warning signs

– Mood changes: When feeling anxious, depressed, or empty, you may seek out indulgent behaviors as an escape.

– Behavioral changes: Begins to neglect work, school, or relationships and devote too much time to certain activities.

 

  1. Seek support

– Professional help: Counseling, therapy or support groups can provide necessary assistance.

– Social support: Share feelings with family and friends and seek their understanding and support.

 

  1. Substitute behavior

– Healthy activities: Find other activities that bring joy and satisfaction, such as exercise, art, or reading.

– Time management: Arrange time reasonably to avoid overindulgence in a certain activity.

 

  1. Self-reflection

– Journal: Record changes in mood and behavior to help identify triggers.

– Goal setting: Set short-term and long-term personal goals to help yourself stay focused.

 

  1. Lifestyle adjustments

– Balanced diet: A healthy diet can help improve your mood and physical state.

– Get proper rest: Ensure adequate sleep and rest to reduce stress.

 

Recognizing addictive behaviors and taking effective treatment methods can improve one’s mental health. Ongoing self-reflection and seeking support are important steps in overcoming these behaviors.

Learning and playing are often two opposite things

Learning and playing are often two opposite things. We frequently hear elders say: read carefully when studying, and play thoroughly when playing. But can you only choose one of the two, or can you do both simultaneously?

 

In daily life, study and work responsibilities are often overwhelming. We hope to continuously improve ourselves and cope with various examinations and work challenges. However, if we only focus on studying hard and ignore the entertainment and relaxation in life, wouldn’t it be difficult to maintain a good physical and mental state and face various tasks?

 

To maintain a good physical and mental condition, it is equally important to balance study and entertainment. While setting learning goals, you can reasonably plan your learning time for yourself. Endless homework and review will make us suffocated, but as long as we learn to make reasonable arrangements and perform study, work, and entertainment in their respective duties in an orderly manner, we can also achieve a balance. For example, you can divide the day into several periods, using the morning for study and work and leaving time for recreational activities in the afternoon. Or arrange some short rest time after work to regulate your body and mind through yoga, meditation, and other methods. As long as time is used effectively, learning and entertainment can coexist harmoniously.

 

In addition, the fun in learning can also make our learning process novel and interesting. I once heard an interesting saying that learning an instrument is described as playing music in English grammar. The hidden meaning expresses that learning music is an enjoyable process. Understanding the melody and knowledge in the music score also incorporates interesting elements into the learning process to stimulate enthusiasm and motivation for learning. Finally, playing music is not only a fun experience but also provides unexpected gains and improvements in the process.

 

After busy study and work, making time to enjoy life will help us get twice the result with half the effort. Only by finding a balance between study and play can we maintain physical and mental health and better devote ourselves to study and work.

 

You’ve been busy all day today, it’s time for play!

Don’t let summer holidays become the burden between you and your child!

There is no doubt that the summer holiday is the most exciting time for students every year because it’s time to temporarily get rid of the tedious curriculum and fully enjoy the freedom during the holidays! However, when summer holiday homework appears, this excitement is immediately suppressed. Facing piles of summer homework, parents nag non-stop and constantly urge children to complete their homework. Children may thus frequently complain, and the relationships between parents and children become tense. Here are some tips to make summer holiday homework no longer a burden between parents and children:

 

Review the meaning of summer holiday homework.

The purpose of summer homework is to ensure students do not encounter a substantial hiatus in their learning journey and to review and consolidate knowledge from the previous academic year. It’s worth for parents to think about: “Is the homework content really useful?” And “Besides academic performance, are there other talents and interests suitable for children to develop during the summer holiday?” Parents should maintain a relaxed attitude to guide children to complete summer homework, such as letting children choose topics they are interested in writing about, instead of forcing them to finish all homework at the beginning of summer break.

 

Plan the summer holiday with your children.

Summer holiday homework is important, but children also need sufficient rest time, parent-child interaction, and free time for entertainment. Parents can plan the summer schedule with their children, set a fixed time for homework every day, and let children arrange the rest of the time themselves. Such as playing games, watching movies, exercising, and taking rest. Parents can also have fun and rest with children from time to time, such as watching the exciting and thrilling Olympic Games together, cheer for athletes from different countries, and get to know various types of sports with children at the same time. If the child finds interest in a certain sport, parents can encourage the child to join fresher classes related to the sport during summer break to explore new interests.

 

Be patient and encouraging towards children’s learning situations.

Every child is unique with different learning progress and abilities. Parents should not make comparison between different children. As long as children make efforts to learn, they should be given appropriate praise and encouragement. Even if they occasionally encounter learning difficulties, parents need to assist in an understanding and patient manner, instead of scolding children harshly.

 

How to achieve a balance between learning and enjoying the leisure of summer vacation worth consideration for every family. Let’s make good use of this long summer break, and not let summer homework become a burden between parents and children. Let’s enjoy quality parent-child time together!

Summer holiday guide for working parents

It is summer holiday again! I believe that all students are excited about that and hope that they can temporarily forget the pressure of study during the holiday, it is time to take a break and do what they like. However, most parents still have to work and are unable to spend much time with their children. So, how should parents manage their time with children during the summer holiday to enhance their relationship?

Summer holiday is an opportunity for parents and children to get along and get to know more about each other. It is also a great chance for parents to observe their children’s growth by communicating and taking more care of them.

During the summer holiday, students stay at home more than before, but working parents may not be able to accompany their children all the time. So parents can try to arrange the schedule together with their children, encourage them to express their opinions and communicate more with others, these can help their children to build up their self discipline. At the same time, parents and children can also take this opportunity to participate in some activities together, such as travelling, so that parents can stay with their children more, and both of them can also be relaxed from their busy work life.

Some parents consider about if they should sign up some summer classes for their children. Properly joining some classes that the children are interested in will certainly help with their children’s growth and development, but parents must pay attention not to enroll too many classes for their children. Summer holiday is a break for the children to relax, study-life balance is very important. Reducing their stress can better explore their potential.

Some parents may worry that their children will only focus on having fun during the summer holiday. In fact, this is not a big problem as long as they have a well organised timetable, they can spend their summer holiday meaningfully by following the schedule. For example, let children relax at the beginning of summer holiday, and then participate in various activities that are suitable for them, adjust their work and rest time and study plan near the beginning of school. This will give children a chance to relax during summer holiday without delaying their study.

When there is a healthy schedule for the summer holiday, parents will not be stressed out about how to manage the time with their children. While the parents are trying to plan the timetable for the children, they should also consider and care more about their own emotion, so that they and their children can also enjoy the summer holiday!

How do candidate face the DSE result?

The day of the announcement of the DSE result is coming. Meanwhile, it is telling the students that secondary school life has come to an end. With the new chapter in life, the process is full of unknowns. Let’s look at how to adjust our mindset with some tips below.

1.Understand more about your result
On the day when the results are released, thousands of thoughts may run through your mind when you are holding the results. “Need to study ASSO right away?” “Do I gain enough marks on applying for the ideal subjects?” Before releasing the results, you can preview the choices you will make with different scores and simulate the situation after you get the results that day. For example, use a chart to write down your ideal and least ideal scores, and compare them with your expected goals. Make backup plans. If you plan to continue your studies, you should think of several subjects that are interesting and suitable for you, so as not to be affected by the results on the day when the results are released, which will affect your mentality and then affect your ability to make decisions. At the same time, remember to prepare the documents required for the results day one or two days in advance so that you can face it calmly.

2.Objectively analyze your performance
We may only experience this critical moment of results release once in our lifetime. Students are wise to review the entire preparation process, affirm their dedication and efforts, and also recognize areas that need improvement. The score only reflects the ability to attend the examination, but your own efforts and mental adjustment during the process are the experiences that accompany your growth. Students can focus on whether profound things linger in their minds during the past few years of preparing for DSE. Those memories are also an important part of middle school life.

3.Find support and advice
Remember that you are not alone. If you have any doubts, you may wish to take the initiative to talk to your family, teachers, and friends and listen to their support. There will always be times when a person is in trouble. You might as well share your problems or troubles with others. Different ideas may emerge. This is also very important to adjust our mentality and formulate long-term plans.

4.Appreciate yourself
Finally, it is time to appreciate your efforts over the past few years in secondary school! Achievements are only one-sided performances. On the contrary, the entire middle school career experience is not only about studying but also the personal growth experiences. An ending represents another beginning. On the eve of the release of the results, let’s invite friends to play around, relax and relieve stress, and say farewell to secondary school life and welcome to a new beginning.

How’s parents accompany their children to wait for the DSE results?

As the day for announcing the results draws closer, how can parents of the DSE candidates accompany their children to face the results? In addition to collecting information about further studies through different channels, it is more important to accompany their children and to face the moment together. Here are several tips for parents to consider:

1. Maintain a positive attitude: After studying hard and facing public exams, candidates will inevitably feel nervous and uneasy when the results are announced. Regardless of the outcome, parents should stay patient, remain optimistic and accompany their children.
2. Provide emotional support: Parents should be their children’s emotional support and let their children know that no matter what their grades are, parents will still support and love them unconditionally.
3. Respect children’s choices and feelings: Parents should respect their children’s feelings and decisions, and should try to avoid excessive discussions about children’s achievements and avoid putting pressure on them.
4. Provide guidance and suggestions: Parents can give their children some guidance and suggestions at an appropriate time so that they can make plans by themselves.
5. Avoid excessive interference: Parents should try to avoid excessive interference in their children’s thoughts and decisions. Parents can give their children space and provide them with timely support and resources.

Parents can show more empathy by trying to think from their children’s perspective, and try to consider their feelings and reactions. The most important thing is to let children understand that no matter what their grades are, parents will always be there to accompany them and support them. The release of results is just one of the stages in life. Avoid putting all your own expectations on your children, providing appropriate care and support is the most important.