7 minute read
Finding the right people to form a high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) team can be challenging
Habits for a happy mind
Angela Lee Jenkins
It’s been a big few years full of challenging and stressful times. We all know it. We are all feeling it. And world events don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. But does that mean we need to continue to feel like this? Is it still possible for us have a happy mind and create a happy workplace despite what is going on??
In the words of the very inspiring and wise Viktor E Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor: “When we can no longer change a
situation, we are forced to change ourselves.”
In my discussions with many Childcare Educators the number 1 thing that so many of them want is to be happy at work. Have a happy team, happy kids and a happy workplace. In her PHD study ‘Habits of a Happy Brain’ Loretta Breuning discusses 4 of our happiness hormones: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphin. When you understand these hormones and how they work you can set up habits to create the release of more of these hormones. Yes, we can make choices to trigger the release of more happiness hormones! How cool is that?
So let’s get started with some Happy Hormones.
Firstly Dopamine. Dopamine is our reward hormone. It triggers joy when we find what we seek. One of the simplest ways to trigger dopamine in your day is by setting small goals. Setting small goals for you to achieve and then celebrate it! These can be any type of small goals - lifestyle goals, personal goals, work goals. Ticking off the list feels good. Next up our love hormone Oxytocin all about trust and connection. Some ways we can get more oxytocin flowing in our body are: • By taking the time to be present and look people in the eyes. • Hugs are also great and hopefully as we start to reduce the physical distancing we can get back to more hugs in the world.
• Even placing your hand on your own heart for as little as 20sec can begin to release the hormone.
Something I love about oxytocin to is that it can reduce the amount of stress hormones in your body too. #winwin Serotonin is another happiness hormone. Serotonin is released when we are proud of our achievements. We so often don’t acknowledge this but it is important to. What are you proud of today? Share it with a friend for some extra serotonin. Something important to understand about Serotonin is that 80% of it is produced in our gut. So, looking after our gut health with whole foods is also a winner.
Finally endorphin which is commonly knows as the ‘runner’s high’ hormone. Often released in marathons and ultra distance events to suppress the pain. But the best bit is you don’t have to go out and run like that to get endorphin flowing in your body. It is also released by doing a novel activity or movement. Kids are great for leading the way with novel activities and movements – join in!
Focussing on building these healthy happiness cycles is important because there are a lot of people caught in ‘unhealthy’ happiness cycles like the dopamine addiction from getting facebook likes or the feel good sugar hits. Rather than focussing on trying to stop these unhealthy habits, the brain works better by focussing on filling our cups with healthy happiness cycles. For me one of the most profound learnings from my study into happiness is that happiness spreads. When you are happy you can influence the happiness of people up to 3 degrees of separation (that’s people you have never met!). The Framingham Heart Study conducted over 50 years literally found clusters of happiness (and unhappiness - the choice is ours). When we decide to be happy our brain will start to look out for things to be happy about. Adding in some of these habits are great for training a happy brain and giving us a happiness boost we could all do with. Don’t wait for the happy ending.....
Some of the other top habits of a happy brain in the research that you may also like to include are:
3 Good Things - writing down 3 good things a day showed to increase happiness exponentially. Call a Friend - in the top 10% of happy people, the single most reported factor was social relationships. Friends are a good havit to have. Nature - getting out and experiencing the senses in nature all trigger positive responses in our brain.
Angela Lee Jenkins BSC App www.angelaleejenkins.com Wellbeing Specialist
BioMeet Angela - Mum, International Presenter and Consultant, Corporate Speaker, ‘Will to Liv’ Podcast Host and founder of the 4D Wellness Program. Angela is known for bringing cutting edge concepts, great energy and leaving her audiences inspired. Her expertise is in stress management, holistic lifestyle coaching, and personal development where she takes a personalised 4-dimensional approach to wellness.
With over 20 years of experience, Angela has coached leaders around the world, run corporate wellbeing programs, founded an exercise physiology centre, mentored award winning trainers and developed a team of Coaches in Australia, NZ and Asia.
Her work has been featured across major US media outlets and she has provided expert commentary in leading publications in Australia and Asia. “She has a very personal powerful story which she has transformed into her mission to inspire the “Will to Liv” our most fulfilling life.”
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Con’grad’ulates
CAECE is delighted to present recent graduates who have completed their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
Over the last quarter we have had the opportunity to congratulate CAECE graduates from both our Diploma and Certificate III qualifications. With the ongoing support from our lovely CAECE trainers, students have been guided to achieve their goals in becoming fully qualified educators. If you, or someone you know, are interested in studying and working towards your qualifications in early childhood education and care, our friendly staff and trainers are willing to guide and support your early learning journey! For more information please contact our team on 07 3299 5784 or email admin@caece.com.au.
CAECE would like to congratulate the following graduates and wish them all the best for their future as an early learning educator!
CAECE graduates for the last quarter:
Abbi: Strawberry Bush Early Learning Academy - Certifice III (Trainer Sonja) Ainsley: Little Scholars School of Early Learning Yatala - Certificate III (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Ally: A Country Garden Early Childhood Centre - Willow House - Diploma (Trainer Kellie) Amber: Raceview Kindergarten and Child Care Centre - Certificate III (Trainer Meaghan) Anastasios: Little Wonderland Childcare - Diploma (Trainer Meaghan) Anna: Imaginarium Early Learning - Diploma (Trainer Meaghan) Ashleigh: Raceview Kindergarten and Child Care Centre - Diploma (Trainer Meaghan) Brianna: Educating Kids Children’s Centre Kirwan – Certificate III (Trainer Lainie) Brienna: Certificate III (Trainer Meaghan) Bridget: Guardian Springfield Lakes – Certificate III (Trainer Meaghan) Britney: Perfect Beginnings Child Care Centre Holmead Road - EMP 2 - Certificate III (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Caitlin: Educating Kids Children’s Centre Domain - Diploma (Trainer Lainie) Caitlin: Daisies Deeragun Early Learning Centre - Diploma (Trainer Lainie) Caitlyn: Little Bunyas Early Childhood Centre of Excellence – Certificate III (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Carly: Cubby Care Early Learning Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Courtney: Active Kids Early Learning Centre Mt Gravatt East - Diploma (Trainer Arielle) Courtney: Bahrs Scrub Early Learning Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Courtney: Learning Pathways - Certificate III (Trainer Kellie) Hannah: Little Scholars School of Early Learning - Ormeau 1 – Certificate III (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Ella: Little Scholars School of Early Learning Deception Bay - Diploma (Trainer Lauren) Eryn: Caboolture Christian Children’s Centre - Diploma (Trainer Lauren) Gabriel: Educating Kids Childrens Centre Domain - Diploma (Trainer Lainie) Kaileen: Educating Kids Children’s Centre Townsville – Certificate III (Trainer Lainie) Kara: Petit Early Learning Journey – Burdell - Diploma (Trainer Lainie) Kimberly: Play and Learn – Upper Coomera – Certificate III (Trainer Sonja) Lani: Edge Early Learning – North Harbour - Diploma (Trainer Lauren) Leah: Leading Edge Childcare Morayfield - Diploma (Trainer Lauren) Linda: Educating Kids Magnetic Island – Certificate III (Trainer Lainie) Madison: Tugun Tiny Tots Early Learning Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Sonja)
AMBER
OLIVIA
SIMMI COURTNEY
HANNAH
SOPHIE AINSLEY
ELLA
ASHLEIGH
Madison: Little Oak Early Learning Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Melinda: Peace of Mind Community Kindergarten - Diploma (Trainer Lauren) Mia: Kids Bizz Childcare Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Lauren) Rachael: Ascot Kindergarten and Childcare - Diploma (Trainer Brooke) Rachani: Redbank Plains Child Care Children’s Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Meaghan) Rebecca: Charley’s Place Springwood – Diploma (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Sarah: Diploma (Trainer Lainie) Simran: Bo Peep Child Care Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Lainie) Sophie: Beattie Road Early Childhood Education Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Melissa-Ann) Sumanpreet: Petit Early Learning Journey – Burdell – Certificate III (Trainer Lainie) Tanya: Play and Learn – Deception Bay - Diploma (Trainer Lauren) Thapanee: Saint Brendan’s Child Care Centre – Certificate III (Trainer Meaghan) Tiffany: Kindermarlee - Diploma (Trainer Lauren) Tymara: POD Early School – Certificate III (Trainer Lauren) Yashidara: Goodstart Early Learning Gatton – Diploma (Trainer Kellie)
