Connecting with a Support System: Wellness, Rottnest, and Family Connection 

Taking Time to Refuel
This week, I took a wellness leave day – a HelpingMinds initiative that often flies under the radar but is so important for our team’s wellbeing. It’s a chance to step away from the emails and meetings, to take a breather for ourselves – no guilt, no pressure. Just time to refill our tank.

Marking a Milestone
I used mine to mark a pretty special milestone – our son’s 21st birthday. We were thrilled he wanted to spend the day with us, and we decided to head to Rottnest Island – just us, the sunshine, and the sea breeze.

Rottnest: A Place of Beauty and History
Rottnest is one of those places that pulls you in. The gorgeous turquoise water, the quokkas, the fresh salty air – it’s like pure magic. But it also holds a deep and tragic history. Known as Wadjemup to the Whadjuk Noongar people, it was once a prison island where many Aboriginal men were incarcerated – and many died. I found myself walking the paths, thinking how it is a place of stark contrasts – natural beauty and historical grief – and it reminds us that healing and reflection can happen side by side.

Why Nature Nurtures Us
That said, there’s something about being in nature that supports our wellbeing, as I’ve explored previously. The science backs it too. Studies show that spending even two hours a week in nature can boost your mood, reduce stress, and improve your overall sense of wellbeing. It helps regulate cortisol levels (our pesky stress hormone), lowers blood pressure, and can even increase creativity and focus. Nature therapy, or “ecotherapy,” isn’t just a buzzword – it’s something our nervous systems have craved for generations.

Practising What We Preach at HelpingMinds
At HelpingMinds, we’re big believers in walking the talk. We advocate for mental health and wellbeing every day – not just for the people in our communities, but for our team members too. Our wellness days are about more than just time off. They’re about valuing mental rest, emotional nourishment, and that all-important reconnection with what matters most.

What Matters Most: Family
And this week, what mattered most to me was family.

In this phase of life, when young adults are carving out their independence, it felt like a small miracle that our 21-year-old son wanted to spend the day with his “old” parents. We laughed, explored, talked about everything and nothing, and just soaked up the sunshine in each other’s company.

Gratitude for the Little Moments
These moments – the ones that seem small and often insignificant – are often the most powerful. I am so deeply grateful to have had the space to enjoy them, thanks to a workplace that genuinely values wellbeing and puts family first.

An Invitation to Reconnect
I encourage everyone to make space for self-care, to enjoy nature’s quiet magic, and to treasure those unforgettable days when your adult child still chooses you.