Six Ways to Well-being
01. Be Active
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
02. Keep Learning
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. 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 to do.
03. Give
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you.
04. 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.
05. Take Notice
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are on a train, 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.
06. Care For The Planet
Look after your community and the world. Make small changes to your life that will reduce your energy use, recycle more, leave the car at home, use low energy light bulbs, small steps to a greener life can make a difference.
Work 5 A Day
Suggested by Mind, these are a series of mental health breaks aimed at encouraging mental space, connection, movement and stress reduction throughout your working day.
01. Walk Away From Your Desk
No matter where you’re working, getting away from your desk from time to time is crucial in giving yourself a mental break from work.
02. Organise Your Time
By blocking off some time to consciously plan your day into solo-tasking chunks, you’ll be able to avoid multitasking and make sure you prioritise your most important tasks.
03. Reach Out To Others
Making sure to take the time to reach out and connect with others is incredibly important for our mental health, not only because it helps us keep our stress levels under control but also because loneliness can, in turn, lead to an increased risk of depression, stress, anxiety and low self-esteem.
04. Keep Moving Your Body
Incorporate walking breaks into your daily routine. Not only are they good for avoiding RSI or other postural issues while working from home regular exercise is also proven to increase energy, boost productivity and increase happiness.
05. 5 Minutes of Breathing
It really is as simple as it sounds: controlled breathing has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to combat stress and is especially effective in high pressure environments. See link below for NHS breathing exercises.
NHS Breathing Exercises for Stress
5 Tips To Avoid Neck Pain When Working From Home
Desk Stretches suggested by BUPA
5 Minute Full Body Strength Training