5 Ways to wellbeing
Practice the 5 ways to wellbeing
5 Ways to Wellbeing offers simple, evidence-based steps to improve your mental health and wellbeing by making you feel more positive and fulfilled in life.
Learn more about the steps on the NHS and Mind's websites.
The 5 ways to wellbeing consist of:
1. Connect
Connecting with others and building good relationships is integral to maintaining good mental wellbeing as it helps us feel valued and provides us with a sense of belonging.
Ways to connect with other people can include:
- reaching out to a friend or family member
- talking to colleagues
- arranging to meet with friends you haven’t seen in a while
- joining a club or taking up a new hobby to meet new people
2. Be active
Being physically active not only improves your physical health but it also improves your sleep, helps to reduce stress and boosts your mood by releasing endorphins which make us feel happier.
Increasing your physical activity can involve simple everyday changes such as:
- increasing your average daily step count, such as going for a lunch time walk
- using the stairs rather than a lift
- doing yoga or daily stretches
- getting off the bus a stop earlier to walk more
- joining a gym or doing at-home workouts
3. Take notice
Taking notice of our surroundings and our emotions can help us to feel more present in the moment and increase our self-awareness.
Ways to take notice include:
- taking the time to clean or declutter your space - whether that be a workspace desk or your bedroom
- try journalling or writing down your thoughts - for example writing down 5 things you’re grateful for each morning
- going on a mindful walk and taking in your surroundings - such as paying attention to your senses and naming one thing you can hear, taste, see, feel, and smell
- make a change to your daily routine such as taking a different route home from work
4. Learn
Learning new things can help boost your self-esteem, make you feel productive and give you a sense of purpose.
Examples of new things you can learn may include:
- learning a new language on Duolingo
- completing a crossword or sudoku puzzle
- cooking or baking something new
- researching something you are interested in
- learning a new skill such as crochet, knitting, painting, or a DIY project
5. Give
Research has shown that giving back to others has a positive impact on our mental wellbeing.
Giving back can include small acts of kindness such as:
- volunteering in your local community (charity shops, hospitals, care homes)
- making or buying a hot drink for a friend or coworker
- offering to help someone
- being involved in some fundraising (a sponsored walk or run)
