Yolanda Steenkamp

My Ridiculously Good Reflection — May 2025

Tuesday 2nd Jun

My Ridiculously Good Reflection — May 2025

2,865 minutes of wellbeing. More than double my initial goal.

But honestly? That number doesn't come close to capturing what this month was really about.

Choosing to focus on wellbeing minutes was not some carefully planned decision. It was honestly the last random idea that came to mind just before May started. It wasn't very intentional at first — until I started writing my challenge updates and realised this could actually be something good. For me, and hopefully for others too.

I thought 1,200 minutes and a $1,200 fundraising goal were ambitious targets. The minutes I smashed. The fundraising goal — I'll be honest — I wish I had made a bigger financial impact for YouthCARE. That part sits with me. But what the activity itself did — for me and for people around me — made every single minute completely worth it.

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The silent goal I didn't tell anyone about

There was actually a goal underneath my goal that I didn't share openly — partly out of fear of not achieving it. My real aim was to focus on wellbeing every single day. Because I genuinely believe that small, consistent acts are more powerful than a few big ones.

Some days, finding the energy or mental space to focus on wellbeing was the last thing I wanted to do. Challenging days have a way of doing that. But because of that quiet personal commitment, I still tried — even on the hard days. And that meant learning to adapt. Not chasing some ideal version of what wellbeing should look like, but meeting myself where I actually was.

That process kept bringing me back to one thing: reality versus idealism. Being honest about where I was, rather than where I thought I should be, helped me refocus every single time. Even those moments of initial resistance — not wanting to go to the gym because I was frustrated or physically flat — every time I pushed through, I got the benefit—every time.

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The most profound discovery of the month

Here's what surprised me most: I didn't go for a single bushwalk. I didn't walk the dogs or visit the beach — my most peaceful place. I didn't journal or do most of the things we typically picture when we think about wellbeing.

What I did was everyday activities — with an intentional mindset.

And that was one of the most profound things I have ever discovered about wellbeing, and it's something I will carry for the rest of my life.

Our mindset gives our actions meaning and purpose. It helps us stay present — with lessons from the past and trust that the future will have its moment when it becomes our present.

Are you making a meal because that's what you're supposed to do? Or are you grateful to be in a position to nourish the people you love — and even more blessed when you get to share that meal together?

Are you focused on everything you still need to do? Or are you choosing to be joyfully present with gratitude — and then doing what needs to be done from that place?

Both approaches get things done. But how do you feel during and afterwards? Completely different. And honestly, the second mindset actually helped me get more done in the same amount of time.

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Becoming aware of the wellbeing thieves

This month also sharpened my awareness of the things that steal from my wellbeing — big and small. Frustration. Prickly people and situations. Uncertainty. A cold slowed me down physically. The list is real.

But awareness is power. The more I could name the thief, the better I got at stopping, resetting my mindset, and moving forward intentionally — minimising or sometimes even eliminating the theft altogether. I won't pretend I always caught it in time. There were moments I let it happen when I should have acted sooner. But mostly, I was able to recuperate and get back on track.

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The foundation underneath everything

I was very intentional about connecting my wellbeing mindset to my faith in Christ, though I didn't record this time in my minutes. That time with God, in my opinion, had the biggest impact of all. Starting each day grounded in Christ gave me a lens through which to view when the wellbeing thieves came knocking. It helped me be more intentional in my thoughts, more present in my actions, and more anchored when things got hard.

We cannot experience any of this going at a million miles an hour. We need to slow down. We need to make space — to think, to breathe, to reset — and then resume a steady pace when we're ready.

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The ripple effect

When I shared my challenge with staff at the school I support during the final week of May, it opened up some really meaningful conversations. More than one person paused to take stock — to be genuinely honest about where their mental health was — and, from that honest place, took steps to slow down, heal, reset, and begin to reignite a healthy state of wellbeing.

That alone made the whole challenge worth it.

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What wellbeing actually is

Wellbeing is not a goal out there to achieve one day. It's not something we save for long weekends and holidays. It is an intentional mindset — choosing to be present with gratitude and hope in the everyday moments of life.

And for me personally, that intentional mindset is rooted in Christ.

The journey accelerated in May as it came into the spotlight. But it is absolutely not ending here. This is something I will continue to grow in — and continue to walk alongside others as they find their own way through it.

Here's to what comes next. 💙

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Week 4 Update

Monday 1st Jun

Day 25: A cold put a dampener on the day — no Monday gym session, and I had to slow right down physically. But here's what I've been reminded of this month: strong mental health means learning to adapt, not push through at all costs.

So today looked different. Extra reading time, instrumental music playing softly in the background, and a focused few hours that saw a satisfying pile of outstanding tasks cleared with surprising ease. The evening brought one of my favourite kinds of joy — cooking spaghetti bolognese with hidden veggies for the family. Yes, my kids are in their late teens. Yes, the hidden veggies still absolutely work. The compliments made my day. 😄 A solid 120 minutes, cold and all.

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Day 26: Today, my body said less, and I listened. Sometimes wellbeing isn't about doing more — it's about having the wisdom to rest when you need it.

And rest doesn't have to mean sleeping. Today it looked like a long, warm bath, cuddling the dogs, a mindfully sipped cup of coffee, and 45 minutes lost in a good book. Simple. Gentle. Exactly right. 95 minutes that filled the cup rather than emptied it.

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Day 27: Another childhood recipe on the table tonight — and the real gift was that the whole family sat down to eat it together, which on a weeknight is rarer than you'd think. That shared table, those conversations, that ordinary moment — it filled me with gratitude. 35 minutes of cooking love, followed by 30 minutes of reading to finish the day beautifully.

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Day 28: An hour and a half at home alone between work and the family arriving back, and I made the most of every minute. Music on, a few grooves happening in the kitchen, sorting things out so the house was ready and welcoming when everyone walked through the door. It didn't feel like chores. It felt like a gift I was giving my family — and gratitude for our blessings ran through every moment.

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Day 29: A staff development day today, and while I wasn't part of most of the program, the social connection over breakfast and morning tea was genuinely life-giving. I love working with people, and those moments of real, unhurried conversation are something I don't take for granted.

The rest of the day was spent in my office with worship instrumental music carrying me through — helping me focus, finishing administrative tasks, and then moving into work I am truly passionate about: our school's Risk-Connection Project.

This project is close to my heart. It's about being intentional — building strong, trusting relationships between students and school staff, so that every child has at least one trusted adult they can turn to when things get hard. No matter how big or small the challenge. The research on how strong relationships buffer children against risk factors is compelling, and it guides much we do.

No child should ever feel they have no one to talk to. That's the heartbeat behind it.

A big day — a massive 275 minutes. And then our daughter quietly added a little motivation that got me to the gym for another 65. 💙

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Day 30: Started the day slowly and intentionally with some reading — a good way to set the tone before the busyness begins. After a lovely breakfast with hubby, we headed outside for a two-hour overhaul of part of the veggie garden. Exhausting, honestly. But deeply satisfying.

The potatoes were a little disappointing — the soil hardness got to them this season — but there's something grounding about tending a garden that teaches you gratitude for what did grow, curiosity about what went wrong, and quiet optimism for next time. Those few potatoes are going to taste incredible next week. 😊

185 minutes of intentional wellbeing, woven through an ordinary day.

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Day 31 The final day began at 5:45 am — a windy drive to Perth in the dark. I filled the kilometres with Biblical teachings, and by the time we arrived, the day already felt grounded and purposeful, the wind outside notwithstanding.

There was a quiet moment of gratitude when we arrived safely, and a pause to appreciate the privilege of making these trips for our daughter.

The drive back was its own kind of challenge, and by the time we were home, rest was the only thing on the agenda. A movie - followed by another. Calm, unhurried, and completely deserved.

320 minutes — and what a way to close out the month. 💙

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Week 2 and 3 Update

Monday 25th May

Day 11: I expanded my exercise repertoire today by joining hubby at the gym in the absence of his usual gym buddy. The physical challenge, combined with great company, made 65 minutes fly by — proof that who you exercise with matters just as much as the workout itself.

Day 12: Helping my niece with her homework turned into one of those quietly special moments. It's a good reminder that meaningful connections can grow in almost any situation — it really comes down to our mindset and the posture of our hearts. A short 15 minutes, but rich in all the ways that count.

Day 13: Today, hubby joined me for my leg program. All I'll say is this: 55 minutes of pure joy and laughter was exactly the mental reset I didn't know I needed. Laughter really is medicine for the soul.

Day 14: Thursdays gift me a little more breathing room, and today I used it well — curling up with my book for a good 45 minutes of uninterrupted reading. Simple and restorative.

Day 15: Finishing the week with a coffee pause. Just me, a warm cup, and a few quiet minutes to process the week and make the mental shift from work to home. It's short — only 15 minutes — but that deliberate act of switching off is what allows me to be fully present once I walk through the door.

Day 16: Just me, the garden, and worship music through my headphones. 45 minutes of sunshine, soil, and stillness. Blocking out the outside noise — literally — and letting myself just be for a while. My soul needed it.

Day 17: A restful afternoon spent exploring ideas to improve our veggie garden. There's something genuinely good for the soul about learning new things and letting your creativity wander. 60 minutes of dreaming and planning, and now I'm genuinely excited about growing more of our own food.

Day 18: The morning started with 45 minutes freshening up the front garden — and I loved every minute of it. There's something deeply satisfying about getting your hands in the ground and stepping back to see the result.

The afternoon had other plans. A full gym session turned into a 25-minute speed session when a child needed an early pick-up. I finished the last 15 minutes at home instead. It would have been easy to call it and stop early — but there's something important about finishing what you started, even when life reshuffles the plan.

Day 19: A walk with my niece, my nephew, and the dogs. Calming, connected, and unhurried. Healthy relationships build our sense of belonging, and times like this are also beautiful opportunities to speak into young lives and help shape healthy mindsets. 25 minutes that mattered far beyond the minutes themselves.

Day 20: A 45-minute gym session after a Chaplain Support Group meeting set a great tone for the evening. And the highlight of the evening? Our son made steak and blue cheese pasta for dinner. Fully appreciated, fully enjoyed.

Day 21: Tonight's intentional activity was reading before bed — something I do most nights, but tonight I lingered a little longer. 30 minutes of winding down with a good book. A small thing done with intention.

Day 22: Some days, life dictates the pace. Today was one of those days — demands were high, and energy was low by Friday evening. But a family meal out, everyone around the same table at the same time? That was enough. Short and sweet — 20 minutes — but exactly what was needed.

Day 23: A slower day, started the right way — breakfast with hubby and calm music setting the mood. The music continued as we each settled into our own individual projects; the kind of creative, purposeful work that brings quiet enjoyment. 95 minutes well spent, side by side.

Day 24: On a drive to Perth, I put the phone away and simply looked out the window. Intentionally. Kangaroos grazing in open fields. Two birds dancing together mid-flight. Cows dotting the landscape. Mist, sunshine, and a ribbon of smoke weaving across the horizon — photographic moments everywhere I looked.

Refocusing on beauty has a way of quietly ushering in gratitude. I lost track of time entirely — which felt like exactly the point. Somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes, and worth every one of them.

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Update Day 7 - 10

Monday 11th May Share

Pressing out the day

Wednesday 6th May Yesterday morning, I was able to squeeze in a quick 27-minute stretch session and a 10-minute massage chair. I was planning to bake some rusk in the afternoon to relax. As happens in life, I ran a bit behind, and my baking wasn't relaxing at all. It happens. The rusks still tasted nice, and they will bring future enjoyment. So no mental health minutes for this activity. Today, after an exhausting day, I thought reading might be a better activity. Yet, since Wednesday night is gym night, I reluctantly went. What a good decision to push through that initial resistance and not take the easy way out. I put on my headphones, blocking outside noise and focusing on my Afrikaans worship music and the exercises. Pushing myself a little gave me a sense of achievement with increasing weights on every exercise and pressing out the challenges of the day. 70 minutes of Worship music + Lifting weights = Mood lifted. Share

Physical health for mental health

Monday 4th May Looking after our physical health is one key aspect of a healthy mind. We can look after our physical health in different ways. We can eat nutritious food, stay hydrated, get enough good-quality sleep, and engage in physical exercise. I love making nutritious food for my family, especially if I know they like it and they want it. So today, I made homemade healthy granola and chickpea protein cups, and experimented with chickpea brownies. Trying new recipes brings me joy, especially when the family or others enjoy them. It is a new tool in my toolbox for providing yummy, healthy food for my family. The chickpea browning was surprisingly good – worth a try. Triple bonus: the cooking I enjoyed, a new recipe, and fueling my body with healthy food. This took me 125 minutes. Monday night is exercise night. A good podcast and 65 minutes in the gym, finishing with a relaxing massage chair, helped me feel physically and mentally good. Share

Rest and Restart Painting

Sunday 3rd May After yesterday's Relationships and Reading my body decided I need another R - Rest. Waking up a bit unwell, my plans changed instantly. So, rest was part of my recovery today. Unexpected change can be a negative thing, or we our flexible thinking can show us other possibilities. I spend 85 minutes this afternoon painting again after a year of looking at an incomplete painting. No music, background noise - just quiet painting and a little contemplation.   Share

Social Connections

Saturday 2nd May Share

Family Movie Night

Friday 1st May Share