For today’s students, there is pressure to perform, constant notifications, and even the sometimes noise of comparison can feel like an overwhelming storm—one that can cloud focus and steal away the joy of learning.

In this fast-moving world, our minds rarely get the chance to pause.

Emotional and cognitive overload isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a real weight they, and many young adults, carry.

According to Itai Ivtzan ( positive psychologist, Professor at Naropa University, and the director of the @school_positive_transformation )

“We live in a fast paced society. More is ‘better’, faster is ‘better’, and it creates a feeling as if life is some kind of a marathon and we need to run, and achieve more and achieve more. And this is especially relevant in Western societies where this kind of model of life is being held as almost the obvious way of living…When it comes to research, what we see is that this emotional cognitive overload has a huge impact on our psychological experience of the world. It makes it more difficult for us to think creatively, to plan, to organize, to innovate, to solve problems, to make decisions.”

But what if we slowed down?

What if we taught the next generation that being present is just as powerful as achieving the next goal?

Mindfulness, intergenerational connection, and community programs can be lifelines—reminding students that wisdom doesn’t just come from textbooks, but from shared stories, patient conversations, and moments of stillness like the ones students have with older buddies during their time participating in the #seniorsandteensempathyprogram

These practices help them find clarity, patience, and the strength to navigate their final years of school with purpose (rather than potential panic)

“I’ve learned that there is so much more to life than just school or problems, and I have so much ahead of me” Student participating in the Seniors & Teens Empathy Program, Term 1 2025

It’s time to teach our students that presence is a skill—and that sometimes, doing less is the way to achieve more … whether that is through taking time to stop and truly be present with another, or be truly present with themselves.

When we reconnect with our communities and listen to the voices of those who walked before us, we learn that success is a journey, and happiness is a truly important goal.

I look forward to speaking about this and more at the Positive Schools conferences in Brisbane and Sydney in October 2025

#IntergenerationalWisdom #MentalWellbeing #BringingCommunityBackTogether