Wellbeing

Wellbeing means feeling good and functioning well.

Feeling good is not just about feeling happy, it also means being curious, engaged, interested and content with your life. Functioning well is about having positive relationships, being in control of your life, and having a sense of purpose.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing are a set of simple steps that anyone can take to improve their wellbeing. Doing more of these simple steps helps build resilience – the ability to cope with stress and recover from setbacks in life.

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are:

1) Connect

Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.

2) Keep learning

Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike?

3) Be active

You don’t have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find the activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.

4) Take notice

Be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness ‘mindfulness’, and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

5) Give to others

Even the smallest act can count, whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks.