We all have a sense of when we feel mentally and physically well. But sometimes we need extra support or a gentle nudge to look after our mental wellbeing so that we keep well.
There has been a lot of talk in recent months about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our mental health. Now we have more freedom to interact with others and most other restrictions are lifting, this might be the perfect time to ensure that we use the opportunities available to us to ensure we are boosting our mental health and wellbeing.
Back in 2008 The New Economics Foundation reviewed all the research related to mental health and well being and created a set of simple actions to improve mental wellbeing in everyday life. You could think of them as your 5-a-day for mental health.
There’s never been a better time to take your health into your own hands. Why not create a plan that incorporates your 5-a-day? You could start small, focussing on one each day, very soon you will find you are doing more and before you know it, you will have created positive habits.
Connect…
with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Be Active…
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Take Notice…
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters. Keep learning…
Try Something New…
Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Give…
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
Keeping Track
I decided to keep track of these 5 ways on a weekly basis in my journal. It’s a work in progress at the moment but it’s amazing what a difference actually setting the goal to notice positive things makes – similar to a gratitude log – it means I notice things that were probably there all the time but which I took for granted. And I have to confess – the satisfaction of filling in a box at the end of the week does provide added motivation!
Try this…
At the beginning of the lockdowns, myself and two friends set up a Whatsapp group and every day we all post one picture of something that made us smile or feel happy or grateful. We all get as much pleasure from seeing each other’s pictures as posting our own which fosters a sense of connection in the moment. Each week we review the pictures and sometimes give an explanation, this enables us to reflect on the week’s positives. The really interesting thing is that the pictures always relate to one or more of the 5 ways to well being even though that is not our conscious intention. We have all found that setting out to capture one positive moment means that we notice a lot more!
Find out more…
You can read the full report from the New Economics Foundation here
