How often do you check in on your mental wellbeing? It’s common for us to take steps to look after our physical health. This can be anything from exercising, healthy eating or even something as simple as brushing our teeth, but when did you last look after your mental wellbeing? It’s generally accepted that there are five ways to improve wellbeing, which are often referred to as the ‘5 Steps to Wellbeing’. By introducing these 5 steps, and using them in your every day life, research has shown that you can achieve a lasting and positive impact on your general mental wellbeing. Read on to see how you can begin to introduce these steps today.
1. Connect
Connect with those around you. This can be done in so many different ways but here are just a few examples. You could join a social sports club which is a great chance to meet new people. Check in on a relative or friend. Give them a call, or pop round theirs for chat over a cup of coffee.
We are naturally inquisitive and social creatures. Therefore, it follows that social relationships are important in order to support our wellbeing, and act as a buffer against poor mental health. Having a broad social network, allowing us to connect and socialise with others can have a significant positive impact on our wellbeing. Connect with the people around you. Family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life. Building on these connections will help to support and enrich you every day.
2. Be Active
This is all about being active in a way that suits you and that you really enjoy. Let’s face it, sport isn’t for everyone so it’s important that you are able to find something that works for you. So, instead of driving or getting a bus, why not walk or cycle to your local shop?
I consider myself to be very fortunate in that where we live, on the south coast of England, we have the South Downs National Park on our doorstep with thousands of acres of parkland and woodland to explore. So, If you’re unsure about your local area, why not have a quick Google search to see what parks or outdoor spaces are local to you, and plan a trip one weekend with your family? Spending some quality time outside, either in the in the countryside, by the sea or at your local park, can help to reduce your stress levels and improve your overall wellbeing. By getting outside into the fresh air, even if it is simply in your garden, it can help you feel more in touch with your surroundings. It can also help to improve your confidence and self-esteem, by helping you to connect with, and meet new people. The added bonus here is that it then also helps reduce loneliness. Spending more time outside in the fresh air can also help to improve your physical health.
3. Take Notice
Being mindful means to take notice of your thoughts and surroundings. This is often the one thing that many of us are guilty of not doing enough. Simply taking time to engage with everything around you, and taking the time to reflect, is an important boost for your general health and wellbeing. Mindfulness and meditation are good ways of achieving this. You can even practice simple meditation techniques in your living room, or in the office.
Another idea that I discovered (and completed) during 2020 was to take part in a photo a day challenge throughout the month of May, posting them on my personal Instagram feed as a record for the month. I found this quite cathartic, as although I picked a list where there was a specific theme for each day, it made me think about my surroundings in order to come up with the idea for each photo. Why not give it a try? You don’t need a fancy camera or special lighting equipment. All you need is your smartphone, which means you can take your photo, learn some basic editing techniques (a good free app is Snapseed – look it up in your app store of choice), and post it straight to your feed in minutes. Why not tag me (@nickmaison_blogger), I’d love to see the results!
4. Keep Learning
Don’t be afraid to try something new or rediscover an old hobby. Or sign up for an evening class at your local college.
Even though studying a new course or qualification is something well worth considering, this route is not for everyone. However, it doesn’t always have to be something so structured as a formal course. How about learning to play a musical instrument, or learn how to cook your favourite meal? When you think outside the box a little, the possibilities are endless. Above all, the point is that it’s important to take the opportunity to keep your mind active, by learning new skills, taking up new hobbies and developing new interests.
It’s well known that learning during childhood plays a vital role in developing our social and cognitive skills. But it shouldn’t stop there. Constantly learning throughout our lives is essential to boosting our self-esteem. Whilst not everyone may enjoy learning in certain environments such as classrooms, it’s the activity of learning itself which is important for our wellbeing. Setting goals throughout our lives, leads to a positive impact on our overall wellbeing.
5. Give
This is all about giving what you can, when you can. Helping, giving and sharing are all associated with increased feelings of self-worth. Giving stimulates the reward system in your brain (that Dopamine effect again). It makes us feel good, and it provides a positive contribution to our cognitive and social behaviour. Whether it’s your time or simply a random act of kindness. Giving isn’t just about donating money or fundraising, it also relates to giving your time and support by volunteering, helping someone with their shopping, or something as small as buying a stranger a coffee.
Helping, giving and sharing are all associated with increased self-worth and positive feelings. By giving, you are stimulating the brain by releasing Dopamine, the body’s natural feel-good hormone. Research has shown that the regularly demonstrating acts of kindness overtime, results in an overall increase in wellbeing.
The Mental Health Foundation has a list of 50 random acts of kindness that you can do today. Why not have a look to see if there is anything mindful in the list that you can do, that will benefit others?
Final Thoughts
Those are the five simple steps to wellbeing, which you can introduce today to improve your mental health and wellbeing. By introducing these into your day-to-day life, you can help keep your mind and body healthy. As we’ve seen, by simply making these small changes, we can have a big impact on our emotional and physical wellbeing.
Whether it’s connecting with those around you, learning something new, or taking time to notice the world around you, every small step can make a big difference.
So, what will you try first? Whatever it is, we’re all on this journey together. Start by making a small change today and watch how it can create a ripple effect across your life.
Remember, your wellbeing matters, and the best way to improve it is to Just. Get. Started. So take these 5 steps to improve your wellbeing today.
Such great tips
Thanks Kal, glad you found it interesting.