Dalton welcomed back Dr. Ali Mattu, clinical psychologist, host of The Psych Show, expert in Netflix's Mind Explained-Anxiety edition, HBO's Doctor Commentaries, and A&E's The Employables.
At the High School assembly, he talked with students about how to build their own “Emotional Coping Toolkit.” Some essentials, he explained, are improving their quality of sleep, hydration, balanced snacks, and ergonomic setups in our new digital landscape.
While discussing how students deal with their worries, Dr. Mattu provided tips to improve focus (e.g., putting away phones from time to time) and productivity (writing down 3 things to get done on post-its). He suggested finding activities to absorb their minds, like a new hobby.
Dr. Mattu also explained that journaling can help when students feel stuck on something, and it’s vital to celebrate the quick wins accomplished in a day. Gratitude is also an important coping tool. Write a letter to a friend—and it’s a safe bet that no one will mind if students sometimes load the dishwasher after dinner!
Students’ mental health is so important during this time, and we are grateful that Dr. Mattu returned to Dalton for this assembly.