Mental wellbeing
Evidence suggests there are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you approach them with an open mind and try them out, you can judge the results yourself.
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, cycle, play a game, garden, dance - exercise 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 a course or 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 or join a community group. Seeing yourself and your happiness linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.