Looking after your health & wellbeing

Looking after your health & wellbeing

Taking care of your mind as well as your body is really important.

We can all experience feelings such as boredom, frustration or loneliness. You may also feel low, worried or anxious, or concerned about finances, health or the health and wellbeing of those close to you.

It’s important to remember that it is OK to feel this way and that everyone reacts differently. 

There are five ways to well-being:

• Connect
• Be Active
• Take Notice
• Keep Learning
• Give.

This is an evidence based tool developed by the New Economics Foundation and a well-established way to support your wellbeing.

Here are some ideas and organisations that can support your well-being during this period:

• Connect

  There is strong evidence that indicates that connecting with other people is a fundamental human need and one that helps us to function well in the world.

  It’s clear that social relationships are vital for promoting wellbeing and for acting as a buffer against mental ill health for people of all ages.

  However, as our ability to connect with others and the world around us has been hindered recently, it is still really important to find new ways of connecting.

  With this in mind, try to do something different today and make a connection.

  More information can be found in the links below:

  • NHS – Mental wellbeing while staying at home
  • Government advice on mental health and wellbeing for the public
  • Mental Health UK – Managing your mental health during the coronavirus pandemic
  • Every Mind Matters
• Be Active

  Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups.

  Activity doesn’t need to be particularly intense for you to feel good.

  Ideas wherever you are for how to keep moving from Sport England.

• Take Notice

  Evidence shows that reminding yourself to ‘take notice’ and being aware of what is taking place in the present moment directly enhances your well-being.

  Take some time to enjoy the moment and the environment around you by going outside or even looking through an open window at the changes taking place.

  Taking time to be still and quiet is also really beneficial for our mental health so why not take a look at Smiling Minds YouTube mindfulness videos.

• Keep Learning

  Continued learning enhances self-esteem and encourages social interaction and a more active life.

  Setting yourself goals, however small, have been strongly associated with higher levels of wellbeing.

  Why not learn something new today?

  Libraries are a great way to access not just physical books but eBooks and audiobooks as well. Is there a particular topic, skill or subject you’ve always wanted to learn more about?

  Follow the links below for libraries in your local area

  • East Sussex libraries
  • West Sussex libraries
  • Hampshire libraries
  • Brighton and Hove libraries
• Give

  Participation in social and community life has attracted a lot of attention in the field of wellbeing research, and is strongly linked with increased wellbeing.

  Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy. It is also important to give some time to yourself, and structure to your day.

  If you have time, you could try volunteering at your local food bank? The Trussell Trust has a list of how you can get involved.

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