Looking after yourself

Everyone reacts differently to events, and changes in the way that we think, feel and behave vary between different people and over time. It’s important that you take care of your mind as well as your body and to get further support if you need it.

Mental health is something we all have. When we enjoy good mental health, we have a sense of purpose and direction, the energy to do the things we want to do, and the ability to deal with the challenges that happen in our lives.

When we think about our physical health, there's a place for keeping ourselves fit, and a place for getting appropriate help as early as possible so we can get better. Mental health is just the same.

If you enjoy good mental health, you can:

• make the most of your potential
• cope with what life throws at you
• play a full part in your relationships, your workplace, and your community.

What is wellbeing?

It is important to realise that wellbeing is a much broader concept than moment-to-moment happiness. While it does include happiness, it also includes other things, such as how satisfied people are with their life as a whole, their sense of purpose, and how in control they feel.

 

Wellbeing is important for everyone – including you.

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing can help you improve your mental health and wellbeing, and your overall feeling of happiness. Here are some simple, effective ideas to help you choose how to increase your personal wellbeing.

Remember! It doesn’t matter how much or how little you do – all positive action helps. 
 

Be active

Step outside, go for a walk or run, cycle, play a game, garden, dance. Being active makes you feel good. Find an activity that you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness, and make it a part of your life. Regular physical activity is linked with a greater sense of wellbeing and lowers rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. Doing as little as 10 minutes of activity can improve mood. Although adults should aim to be active for at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) a week, being active in bouts of 10 minutes or more is a great way to start – and if it helps you to feel good then why not give it a go.

Connect

Building connections and social networks is important to your wellbeing and will support and enrich you every day. There is strong evidence that social relationships are important for promoting wellbeing and for acting as a buffer against mental ill health for people of all ages. Research has also found that happy people have stronger social relationships than less happy people – this may be because social networks promote a sense of belonging and wellbeing.

Give

Even the smallest act of giving or kindness counts, whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts of giving or kindness, such as volunteering at your local community centre, or joining a community group can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you. Feelings of happiness and life satisfaction have been strongly linked with active participation in social and community life. Helping, sharing and giving are likely to be linked with an increased sense of self-worth and positive feelings. Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy.

Keep learning

Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and confidence. Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Take on a different responsibility at work. Why not sign up for a cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike? Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun. For children, learning plays an important role in social and cognitive development. However, continuing to learn through life can increase self-esteem. Adult learning has a positive effect on wellbeing, satisfaction with life and optimism. The opportunity to engage in work or educational activities may help to lift older people out of depression.

Take notice

Be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts, your body and the world around you. 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 to you. Some people call this awareness 'mindfulness', and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present (through your sensations, thoughts and feelings) directly enhances wellbeing.

A Wellbeing Plan is a self-management tool that can help you to build resilience and maintain a good wellbeing.

Ask yourself…

• What things do I enjoy doing?
• What are my daily needs to keep well?
• What things make me feel good when I have achieved them?
• Who am I when I am well?
• Who are the people you value?
• What are the things you value?
• Who is your safety contact/emergency person?

Create your own wellbeing plan here.
 

If you would like more support, the information below may help you.