5 ways to wellbeing
Over the last couple of months I've been investing in my mental health - I have brain well trained in negativity and a perception that my glass is often half-empty when the reality is I live an abundantly blessed life. The New Economics Foundation [NEF] conducted a review of the most up-to-date evidence and found that building five actions into day to day lives is important for the wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and organisations. What I love about these 5 suggestions is that you can introduce any of these actions into your life, at any time, and you will begin to feel the benefits.
1. CONNECT - with people who make you feel valued
The ability to form relationships is part of what makes us human. Positive social interactions make us feel happy, connected and secure. Building meaningful relationships with family/whānau, friends and the community goes a long way to increasing your sense of belonging and strengthening personal wellbeing. Through sharing experiences, you can discover how you can help others. It also means that during times of distress you have the support you need to get through.
- Smile at someone else.
- Take the time to find out something you didn’t know about someone you know.
- Contact a friend you have not seen or spoken to for a while.
- Reach out to someone who may be lonely and invite them to spend time with you.
- Connect with someone you’ve lost touch with on social media and share a happy memory you have of them.
- Introduce yourself to a new parent or family at your child’s school.
- Eat dinner with the whānau. Play a game of ‘table talk’ where each person reports about their day’s events including the best thing that happened, the funniest thing and anything they didn’t enjoy.
- Take time to read your local newspaper or newsletter – find out what’s going on in your area.
- Host a potluck catch up or BBQ with neighbours, friends or whānau.
- Join a group: it could be your local sports team, book club, choir - whatever interests you most!
- Organise a baby photo competition with friends or colleagues – match the person to the baby!
- Connect with the whenua; grab some mates and get into the great outdoors - go on a bush walk, go surfing or mountain bike riding.
- Have a family WIFI, TV and text free day and bring out the old board games.
2. GIVE - volunterring and being involved with your community is strongly linked with feeling good and functioning well.
Carrying out acts of kindness, whether small or large, can increase happiness, life satisfaction and general sense of wellbeing. By helping others, sharing our skills and resources, we’re doing things that give us purpose and a sense that we’re a part of a team. Giving is important for everyone – no matter what age you are! Giving helps develop children’s brains and supports them to learn to be kind and generous. Giving gives adults a sense of purpose and improves self-esteem. Older people who have left the workforce benefit hugely from sharing their time, knowledge, skills and resources.
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone, smile, or volunteer your time by joining a community group. It feels good to give! Everybody has something to offer. How will you play your part?
- Join or start and develop a neighbourhood Time Bank.
- Take opportunities to support and advocate for groups, friends, family or neighbours in need.
- Give a smile away!
- Donate blood
- Organise or promote random acts of kindness days at school, work or when you're out with a group.
- While driving, stop to let a car into the traffic.
- Offer to mow the grass verge of your neighbour's property.
- Join a community clean up day - could be a local stream, river, beach or park - or a tree planting project with friends or family.
- If you have fruit trees pop your excess fruit out on the street with a "help yourself" sign.
- Donate old toys, books, sports equipment, clothes etc to a local charity.
- Help with school working bees and fundraisers.
- Offer to help an older neighbour with their wheelie bins on rubbish/recycling days.
- Give a compliment – acknowledge what someone in your life has done well.
3. TAKE NOTICE - remember the simple things that give you joy
Paying more attention to the present moment, to our thoughts and feelings and to the world around us boosts our wellbeing. It helps us to behave in ways that make us feel good about ourselves – ways that are consistent with our values and who we want to be. Taking notice can include gratitude, forgiveness, reflection and building a life that is meaningful to you.Be curious and catch sight of the beautiful, remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Try savouring the moment, whether you are walking to work, 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.
- Learn useful techniques for becoming more aware of life as it is happening. Stop for a while; take 10 mindful breaths in and out, calming the body and mind, then simply rest where you are noticing everything that is going on around you. This practice incorporates four keys aspects of mindfulness training: Stopping – Calming – Resting – Noticing. Together, these four steps are innately healing. Use an everyday environmental cue (the phone ringing, email alert etc) as a reminder to pause and breathe for three breath cycles, and take notice of the world around you.
- Learn yoga or meditation.
- Have a mirimiri/massage to sooth and relax your body.
- Be mindful of the first mouthful of food you eat. See if you can really pay attention to all the flavours and textures of the food, the act of chewing and the act of swallowing.
- Take the opportunity to sit quietly in a busy place like an airport or a mall and notice the interactions between people.
- Try to get out of your work environment during breaks. Go for a walk into a nearby park, being mindful of your breathing, your footsteps and the environment around you.
- Climb your maunga, swim in your awa or moana and kōrero karakia with tangaroa.
- Spend time gardening or create a green space in your home or office where you could grow a few small plants, such as herbs, on a windowsill.
- Take notice of the night sky. Learn the difference phases of the moon so you can take notice of the phase it is in and watch the stars change throughout the year.
- Go for a bushwalk. Listen to the birds sing, and try to take notice of the different plant and animal species around you.
- Practise gratitude; keep a diary by writing down three things for which you are grateful on a daily or weekly basis. Take the time to give a special thank you to people who support you everyday.
- At the end of the day ask friends, family or colleagues what the best thing was about their day and listen with interest when they respond.
- Begin meetings with a karakia/prayer or short reflection (eg, an inspiring quote) followed by a brief silent period, allowing people to breathe mindfully and bring their full attention into the room. End in a similar fashion.
4. KEEP LEARNING - embrace new experiences
For adults, learning helps us to set and achieve goals which is strongly connected to higher levels of wellbeing. We thrive when these goals are chosen by us, have a positive focus and align with our values. Learning is more than just formal education. It’s about being curious about the world around us and learning from our environment, other people and the resources we can access.
Try something new or rediscover an old interest. Sign up for a course or take on a different responsibility at work. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving - seek out new experiences and dare yourself!
Try something new or rediscover an old interest. Sign up for a course or take on a different responsibility at work. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving - seek out new experiences and dare yourself!
- Learn something you don’t know about your hometown or local area – check out local history societies, books, plaques or talk to your neighbours.
- Write a bucket list – then try something you have always wanted to do but never actually done!
- Start learning a musical instrument.
- Learn a new skill – it could be anything from learning how to change a tyre to how to care for pot plants.
- Talk to children about what they’re learning about at school – kids love sharing what they’ve learnt and you’ll learn something new.
- Find and try out a new recipe .
- Try to identify one new plant a week – can you learn its name in English and Māori?
- Discover the name of the iwi, hapu, maunga and awa of the place you live.
- Memorise a new word every week. Practice using it among friends and family.
- Learn another language. E korero ki a koe Māori? Parlez-vous francais? Talar pu islensku?
- Put your hand up for a new challenge/training in your workplace to broaden your knowledge.
- Pass on any of the latest research you find that relates to your profession or sector.
- Make a list and try to read one new thing a month - you might like to borrow the books from your local public library.
- Learn about te maramataka - the Māori lunar calendar, and how Māori use it to guide their daily lives.
- Learn the local myths and legends from your area
- Start doing quizzes – online or with a group of friends. You’ll be surprised at how much general knowledge you pick up!
5. BE ACTIVE - Being physically active is proven to boost our wellbeing and decrease stress, depression and anxiety.
When was the last time you went for a bike ride, a jog or a walk in the fresh air? Discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness. Do what you can, enjoy what you do, and move your mood.
- Bring activity into the everyday, eg. use the stairs instead of the lift, walk to colleagues to talk with them instead of phoning, and get off the bus one stop earlier than your stop.
- Try a ‘Have A Go day’ with a local sports group. Look out for what’s on offer, as often, free equipment and tuition is provided.
- Take a family walk after dinner, or a longer one on the weekend. Let family members take turns to choose where to go.
- Hold a family dance-off with different members picking the music.
- Organise or participate in walking tours of local places of interest in your community or suburb.
- Participate in a fun run/walk to raise money for charity.
- Encourage senior students to put together a Top Town-style event for the junior school with wacky, fun activities that everyone can participate in.
- Start or join a walking bus for school children.
- Try tai chi classes for strength, balance and mental wellbeing.
- Go swimming or water walking at your local pool.
- Join a sports club to be active and meet people at the same time - tennis, bowls, touch rugby, netball, there is so much to choose from!
- Find out the most popular sport among your colleagues and then organise a match or tournament for staff.
- Check out your garden - pulling some weeds or planting something new can help you work up a sweat.
This information has been shared from the Mental Health Awareness Week website - you can access it in full HERE. Image of the beach at Anaura Bay - one of our favourite spots.