TAKE 5 STEPS TO WELLBEING

Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.

1. CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE

Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:

help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth
give you an opportunity to share positive experiences
provide emotional support and allow you to support others

Click here for a list of organisations that provide help in meeting new people

2. BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

raising your self-esteem
helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood

3. LEARN NEW SKILLS

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem
helping you to build a sense of purpose
helping you to connect with others

Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.

Click here for a list of organisations that provide help in learning new skills.

4. GIVE TO OTHERS

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:

creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
helping you connect with other people

It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.

Some examples of the things you could try include:

saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you
asking friends, family or colleagues how they are and really listening to their answer
spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company
offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project
volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home

Click here for ideas and a list of organisations that you could donate to or volunteer with.

5. PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRESENT MOMENT (MINDFULNESS)

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.

Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.