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FIVE WAYS TO WELLBEING

Date posted 05 Jan 2024
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‘NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH’ suggests that looking after your mental wellbeing could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life. Evidence suggests there are five steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Each action can fit into everyday life and change how we feel.

1. CONNECT

Good relationships with other people can help you build a sense of belonging and self-worth:

  • Say hello to your neighbour
  • Communicate and listen to those around you, it can be as simple as asking how someone’s day is going
  • Volunteer at a local school, hospital, or community group

2. GIVE

Acts of giving and kindness give you a feeling of purpose and self-worth, create positive feelings and a sense of reward:

  • Say thank you to someone for something they have done for you
  • Ask friends and family how they are and listen to their answer
  • Spend time with friends who need support or company

Paying more attention to your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you can improve your mental wellbeing.

Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better.

Remind yourself to take notice and:

  • Listen to natural sounds, such as birds singing
  • Reflect on your day and experiences
  • Take a different route home

3. TAKE NOTICE

Paying more attention to your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you can improve your mental wellbeing. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. Mindfulness

can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. Remind yourself to take notice and:

  • Listen to natural sounds, such as birds singing
  • Reflect on your day and experiences
  • Take a different route home

4. KEEP LEARNING

Learning new skills can help you build a sense of purpose.

Rediscover an old interest or learn something new such as:

  • Booking onto a course to learn a new set of skills
  • Cooking a new food dish
  • Learning to play a musical instrument
  • Doing a puzzle or crossword

5. BE ACTIVE

Regular physical activity can help boost your mood and lower levels of depression and anxiety. Find an activity you enjoy that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

You could improve your level of activity by:

  • Taking the stairs instead of the lift/escalator
  • Getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of the way
  • Taking your family to the park
  • Trying a new exercise class in your leisure centre