Burgmann's Week of Mindfulness and Wellbeing
Article and photographs by Aaron Wei (Resident, 2026 Comms Intern)
Come mid-Term 3, I know some of the good habits I'd developed at the start of the year had started to slip away. Going to bed before midnight? Making it to hot breakfast before 9:30? Nothing but distant memories. And the lectures? I'd heard they were nice this time of year. But not to worry, Get Your Life In Order (GYLIO) week was here to save me from my misery.
From informative sessions to bar nights, Pilates to canine therapy, GYLIO had it all. Every event was united in its aim of getting residents refocused, recharged, reconnected, relaxed, restored, and rebuilt for the massive weeks ahead.
First bridge to burn: academics. On Tuesday night, the dining hall filled for Academic Reset Night, run by the Burgmann Academic Network Co-ordinators, a crew of dedicated ressies with subject-specific expertise covering every college at ANU. Everyone left with a study plan, perfect for those of us that had a 'slow' start to the semester and now have a backlog of lectures in the tens of hours.
The week only got better from there. Between a special Tams on Wednesday focused on checking in on one another, a heated Homer vs Barassi handball game on Thursday, and a screening of the Bee Movie raising funds for the Pyjama Foundation, residents lived like kings and queens between their classes.
The weekend was jam-packed with de-stressing. On Saturday, after morning Pilates on the back lawn and a coffee crawl, we welcomed Dogs As Therapy for some much-needed canine therapy and poodle cuddles.
That night, Le Chat Noir came alive for the Folklore & Fairytale Bar Night, with live portraits & Henna tattoos from our talented Ash and Jess, and a live set from Burgmann's very own girl band.
Sunday closed out the week perfectly with bacon sizzling on the grill at BBQ Breakfast, scones at Luigis, and the return of the popular Village mindfulness, held in the Chafe with lots of colouring-in and Woolies muffins.
All week, the Warm & Fuzzies Facebook page has been buzzing with Burgies shouting each other out and thanking the unsung heroes of our lives.
I can confidently say my life is far more in order, and I am renewed in my drive for the term ahead. Huge thanks to the GYLIO committee: Charlotte, Annabel, Chris, Jett, Hattie, and Freya, led by their chair Cate, for making the week happen!
