Gratitude allows people tonotice the positive in their livesand reminds individuals what themost important elements in lifeare. Gratitude also strengthensone’s mental set. When peoplecan understand and expressgratitude for all the gifts in life,its benefits extend beyondthemselves and influence thosearound them. Gratitude is auniversal gift that is recognizableamong humans and withinhuman interaction. Whengratitude is expressed, it rarelygoes unseen; others recognize it,and it inspires them to reflectand recognize all the gifts in theirown lives.POWER OF GRATITUDEThe Villa MENTAL HEALTHVolume 1, October 2025By: Susannah FrailGratitude is the feeling ofappreciation and thankfulnessfor everything in life, big or small,being appreciative of everyelement of life. It is easy to getoverwhelmed by life'schallenges. Humans often turntheir own blessings into things tostress about. Especially duringthe holidays, it's important totake a step back from all theseworries and appreciate all thegifts and blessings present in life.When people take a minute toappreciate everything aroundthem, expressing gratitude forthe things and people in theirlives can improve the quality ofliving. Our students have so manythings to be thankful for fromBishop McGuinness alone. Theteachers and coaches are hereto help with any questions orguidance, lunch every day to fuelstudents' bodies to serve,laptops to get all school workdone, and the gifts that BishopMcGuinness supplies areendless. Especially during theholidays, it is important to take amoment to reflect on all theseblessings to recognize a deepersense of fulfillment.Gratitude can be a perspectiveshift, an emotional state, or acognitive process. There are somany benefits of incorporatinggratitude into everyday life.TIPS FOR FINDING MOTIVATIONBy: Lauren ShowersOften, as we get further into theschool year and winter, we canfind our motivation draining. Youmight struggle with schoolwork,sports, relationships, or evensimple everyday tasks. This lossof motivation is completelynormal and can be connected tounrealistic standards orpressure. This article will offersome tips to help get yourmotivation back.Motivation might fade as weapproach colder weather andbusier schoolwork. This fatigueand stress can make it harderto stay focused. Losingmotivation is completelynormal, but it's important toaddress the root causes soyour mental health does nottake a toll. When you noticeyou are struggling to get out ofbed or prioritize your work,start by reflecting on why youare losing motivation. Somecommon causes include lackof sleep, excessive stress, selfdoubt, and unrealistic goals/expectations. Understandingthe cause allows you toaddress it directly.
Here are some strategies forfinding motivation: Set realisticgoals and split up long-termgoals into achievable, smallersteps; Take breaks and restwhen studying or working onassignments; Don't be afraid toseek support from parents,teachers, and classmates;Celebrate wins, no matter howsmall they are; and create areward system for finishingtasks.Finding motivation does notcome easy, but looking at theroot causes and practicingstrategies like these is a goodstart. Remember to be easy onyourself and take care of yourphysical and mental healthshould always be your toppriority.Mental HeaTIPS FOR FINDING MOTIVATIONVolume 1, October 202510 EVERYDAY HABITS FOR BETTER MENTALHEALTHBy: Lauren ShowersEveryday habits can help yourmental health by creatingroutines to improve mood, focus,and stress. Going into the coldermonths, with harder schoolworkand less time outside, manypeople see their mental healthtake a toll. Mental health is just asimportant as physical health foryour life in and out of theclassroom. If you are looking toimprove your mental health, startby working on one habit at a timeand find what worksbest for you. Below is a list of10 recommended habits thatwill help improve your mentalhealth.1.Get enough sleepThe CDC recommends 8-10hours of sleep each night forteenagers. Less than that canlead to higher anxiety, troublefocusing, and exhaustion canlower your academicperformance. If you are lookingto improve your sleepschedule, try putting away allelectronics at least an hourbefore you plan to sleep.2. Stay hydratedEven mild dehydration canlead to headaches, exhaustion,and difficulty concentrating.Drinking lots of fluids helpskeep your brain functioning atits best.3. Daily exerciseExercise releases endorphinsthat can boost your mood andreduce stress. Even lightphysical activity, like walking orstretching, can make adifference. Incorporatingexercise into your daily routinecan help you feel
more energized and focusedthroughout the day.4. JournalWriting down your thoughtscan give your brain space tocalm down and processemotions. By reflecting on yourexperiences, you can gaininsight into what triggerscertain emotions and develophealthier coping strategies.5. Fresh airFresh air can improve yourmood, reduce stress, andincrease your energy levels.Spending time outside innature can also help you feelmore relaxed and focused.6. AffirmationsAffirmations can help you builda positive mindset and improveyour self-esteem. By repeatingpositive phrases, you arerewiring the way your brainthinks. Repeating affirmationsin the mirror might seemuncomfortable or silly, but ithas a proven positive impact onmental health.7. Eat balanced mealsBy fueling your body properly,you will have more energy andyour focus will improve. Makesure your meals contain all theimportant food groups: protein,carbs, fats, and fiber. Prioritizewhole foods and try tomoderate your intake of sweetsand fast food.8. Listen to happy musicListening to upbeat music, suchas pop or rock, can be aninstant mood booster. Insteadof listening to sad, slow music,try mostly listening to musicthat makes you happy.Mental Hea10 EVERYDAY HABITS FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTHVolume 1, October 20259. Create to-do listsThe best thing you can do tostay organized and reducefeeling overwhelmed is makingto do lists. Checking things offof lists can make you feelaccomplished and make sureyou get all of your work done.10. Find a creative outletFinding a creative activity thatyou enjoy can help clear yourmind and release emotions.You might enjoy artwork,playing music, dancing, writing,or baking. Having an outlet youfind joy in can be a good way toboost your mood.BALANCING YOUR LIFE IN AND OUT OFSCHOOLBy: Lauren ShowersBetween schoolwork, sports,clubs, and social life, it can bechallenging to balance your life,which can lead to feelings ofoverwhelm or stress. High schoolschedules can be extremelyoverwhelming, so balancing yourtime, energy, and priorities canhelp you succeed socially andacademically.First of all, how do you know yourlife is unbalanced? Beingoverwhelmed between schooland social responsibilities canmanifest differently foreveryone, but here are some keysigns to look out for. You mayfeel like you are always tired, nomatter how much you rest andsleep. You might also seeyour grades slipping or havemissing assignments. You canalso notice physical signs, suchas headaches, troublesleeping, or tension. It isimportant to have a social lifeoutside of the classroom,especially in high school.Strong, healthy relationshipswith your parents, siblings, andfriends are just as important asyour grades. It is easy to placeself-worth in your grades, butyour character is just asimportant. Permit yourself totake a break by hanging outwith friends, spending timeoutdoors, listening to music, oreven watching your favoriteshow. When trying to balancesocial life, academics, andother activities, make acalendar of your week
75 Hard may be beneficialdepending on the motivation,but it is not sustainable if donein its entirety.As the challenge isn’tnecessarily “healthy” foradults, it is, if not more,dangerous for teenagers.Similar to the benefits inadults, it can build strongdiscipline, encourage healthyhabits like eating properly andexercising regularly, butultimately, if completed withthe original rules, it may causemore harm than good. Havingno rest days can be especiallydangerous for bones, joints,and muscles, which are stilldeveloping. Like in adults, thediet may lead to unhealthyeating habits depending onthe person, which may causefurther issues like eatingdisorders. The “all or nothing”mindset is harmful inteenagers as it can lead toconstant anxiety. Withbalancing school and thistime-consuming challenge,teenagers face a high risk ofburnout.For both adults and teenagers,75 Hard may be a usefulchallenge to attempt if takenwith a more lenient approach.For instance, by taking restdays , focusing on how yourbody feels, rather thanperformance, and putting lesspressure on foods.75 Hard is a mental and physicalchallenge where participantsfollow a set of rules for 75 days. Itconsists of a strict diet, two 45-minute workouts, drinking agallon of water, reading tenpages of a book, and journalingdaily. The final goal is to undergoa physical “transformation” andbuild mental toughness.Originally, 75 Hard was popularwith adults aged 20-45, but as ithit social media, it spiked inpopularity in the summer of2025. Teenagers made TikTokaccounts to track their days andprogress, raising the question: Isthis challenge, designed foradults, sustainable for mentaland physical health in teenagers,as well as adults?For adults, there are benefits tothis challenge. It improvesdiscipline through strict dailyroutines, proven to lead to betterphysical fitness, increasedconfidence, and strongerwillpower with unhealthy foodsdue to the amount of workouts,journaling, and diet. Thedisadvantages of the challengeinclude mental and physicalburnout because of no restperiods, and various injuries maybe sustained. Additionally, thestrict diet may lead to adamaging relationship with food.Based on this,so you can see yourcommitments on paper. Mostimportantly, remember thatyour self-worth does not comefrom only social, academic, orsports successes.Mental HeaBALANCING YOUR LIFE IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL75 HARD: IS IT SUSTAINABLE FOR MENTALAND PHYSICAL HEALTH?By: Olivia NazarethVolume 1, October 2025
The holidays are usuallyportrayed as a time for joy,togetherness, and a happy timespent with family. However, forsome, holidays are a time ofstress, anxiety, and sometimesdepression. Many factors go intothe mental health decline peopleexperience, including socialpressure, family expectations,financial strain, comparison,disrupted routines, grief,seasonal depression disorders,general loneliness, and isolation.Several research studies provemental health declines, or evensuicide increases duringholidays. There are also manyways to prepare, cope, andprotect mental health during theholidays.Stressful TimesThe holiday season is famous forbeing stressful.This is due to all the social andfamily events people areexpected to host, cook for, orattend. People are expected tofeel joyful and loving towardsfamily, which sometimesbrings feelings of isolation ordisappointment if they havefamily issues. People areexpected to spend money ongifts, which is harder for somethan others, bringing feelingsof comparison and anxiety. Ifpeople have strugglingrelationships with friends orfamily, or have experiencedrecent grief or trauma, theholidays can be a sad reminderof such.Coping MechanismsThere are many ways to copeor improve mental healthduring the holiday season.Some of these are managingexpectations, accepting thatgifts do not have to beextravagant or expensive.It is always important torespect your body, rather thanconstantly pushing it to itslimits. The challenge with itsoriginal rules is neither healthynor sustainable.Mental Hea75 HARD: IS IT SUSTAINABLE FOR MENTAL AND PHYSICALHEALTH?MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE HOLIDAYSBy: Nan LaneyIt’s okay to decline things thatfeel overwhelming and notagree to more than you can doand handle. Maintaininghealthy and normal routineshelps improve mental health.Staying connected to thoseyou love and feel comfortablewith, whether that’s certainfamily members, coworkers,teammates, or friends. Avoidcomparison on social media,including social events,Christmas hauls, and holidaytrips. Stress-relief techniqueshelp, such as mindfulness,breathing exercises, andmeditation. Allow time forgrieving and reflecting if therewas a recent loss or change,and create new traditions.Lastly, in more serious cases ofbad mental health, seekprofessional help, therapy, ormedication.Volume 1, October 2025
Mental HeaPREVENTING SECOND SEMESTER BURNOUTBy: Wilhelmina BennettVolume 1, October 2025The first semester of high schoolis usually recognized as mucheasier than the second. Duringthe first semester, students arestill feeling the exciting effectsof the summer season, as well asthe cheerful reunion betweenfriends. The second semester,however, can be very challengingand can often result in burnoutand exhaustion. Especially whentrying to get back in the flow ofwork after being out forChristmas break. Even thoughthe pressure of succeeding inthe second semester can beoverwhelming, there are ways toprevent yourself fromoverworking.Study TipsTo stay on top of your secondsemester schoolwork, helpfultricks for studying are essential.Spacing out your homework canbe a very effective tool to use.For example, if you have anassignment due in a week, tryand work on it for around 15-30minutes a day instead of rushingon it the night before it's due.Even if it seems boring andunnecessary, this is importantand can help protect your mentalhealth as well as keep yourworkload to a minimum. Anothergood study tip is studying foryour finals at least a week inadvance. Finals are a busy timeof the year, so do yourself a favorand get a head start. This way,you can finish your finals withease.Don’t Overwork YourselfIn order to avoid the stressfuloverload of work, know when totake breaks. If you're doinghomework at night and it'sgetting late, go to sleep. Justplan on waking up early andfinishing your work. Rest is veryimportant to prevent burnout,and during the second semester,you will need lots of it. Takingtime to work on things you enjoyis also important. Take a breakfrom schoolwork to do a craft orgo for a run. Things thatstimulate your brain and makeyou happy are key to gettingthrough the second semesterwithout being affected byburnout.Alivia Garcia (junior) studies fora math quiz
are left unattended while theytravel, providing ampleopportunity for burglary.Furthermore, a sharp surge indrinking is seen on Christmas,directly leading to increasedhome crimes. Statistically, it hasbeen shown that more violentcrime is produced in the summermonths, while winter crimesproduce more property crimes.Therefore, the generalstatement,“Is crime seasonal?”does not account for thedifference between winter andsummer transgressions. In NorthCarolina, for example, 31.76burglaries occur per 100,000people, which is 41% higher thanthe national average.Similar examinations, like onefrom sciencedirect.com,analyzes the flipped swells incrime during the differentseasons and point to how highvariability in weather causes aneven more drastic differencebetween the two seasons. Forexample, studies have shownthat with unexpected heat wavescomes higher rates of homicideand robbery; on the flipside,unpredictable winters bringhigher irritability and in resultlead to more crime. Thus, withthe ever-growing and (arguably)WHY DOES CRIME INCREASE OVER THEHOLIDAYS?The Villa CRIME TIMEVolume 1, October 2025By: Rose TavennerAs early as 1833, people havebeen publishing their findings inthe uptick of crime during thewarm months versus crimethroughout the winter season.Thelawman.net shows universallythat summer/warm monthcrimes produce significantlymore crime against people and adramatically low amount againstproperty. Notably, these findingsare completely reversed over thewinter/cold months. OnThanksgiving, it has been shownthat DUI, theft, and domesticviolence are the most commoncrimes, whereas on Christmas,shoplifting, burglary, and onceagain DUI are the most commoncrimes.The spike in these offenses arevery generally due to an increasein opportunities available forpeople to take advantage of thegiving season and atmosphere.More specifically, aroundThanksgiving, theft and fraud arecommon transgressionscommitted mainly due to theproximity to “Black Friday” aswell as a pause in the supplychain.On Christmas, many peoples’homesvery real talk of climatechange, we can expect to seean even higher climb ofseason-adjacenttransgressions. With this,studying past patterns in crimeand their individual rates canhelp prevent further increaseof them in the future.