Wellbeing

When we talk about wellbeing, we mean how you are feeling at this moment, and how well you are coping on a daily basis. Mental wellbeing changes all the time, and can be different from moment to moment; today can be different to yesterday, you can be having a better month than last month. Many things can affect our mental wellbeing, so we need to be aware of it and prioritise it to maintain mental wellness.

Mental wellbeing is essential for us to function and be happy, so we need to prioritise it.

What can affect our Wellbeing?

Mental wellbeing can be affected by a variety of factors. We all have times when we have low mental wellbeing, such as being upset, stressed or finding it difficult to cope.

Life events that can lead to low mental wellbeing are:

Death of a friend, relative or colleague
Issues with relationship(s)
Financial worries
Difficulties at work
Loneliness
Health issues
Sometimes there is no obvious reason for feeling low, or angry, or stressed or upset – which can be really frustrating.

Whatever the reason, there are ways you can improve and maintain your mental wellbeing.

What does good mental wellbeing look like?

Feeling confident
Positive self esteem
Being productive in work and day to day life
Feeling present and engaged with the world
Being able to feel and express a range of emotions
Coping well with daily stress
Being able to adapt to life’s challenges
Fostering good relationships with people around you

Remember: you deserve to feel good

What strategies can I use to improve my wellbeing?

Practice self care

Make time to look after yourself, and make keeping yourself well and happy a priority. Remember, this is a practice, you won’t find it easy every day/time you do it, some days you will feel it have more effect than others. It is essential for your wellbeing to look after yourself, and it can make you more resilient and find challenges easier to face.

Mindfulness. practising being present and clearing your mind from chatter can help you to be more aware of your surroundings, as well as thoughts and feelings. Apps like Calm and Headspace have plenty of free features to use at home, and the BeMindful website has lots of information and details of local courses
Relaxing experiment and find what you find reduces stress. This could be listening to music, having a hot bath, colouring in, aromatherapy candles or oils.
A new skill learning something new can boost your confidence, and give a great sense of achievement. This could be something small, like trying a new recipe, or bigger like signing up for a language or art class, or trying rock climbing for the first time.
Doing something you love doing something you enjoy, even when you don’t want to or can’ see the point, retains normality while you are down and can take your mind off things for a while, so your mind can reset itself in the background. It may make you feel better immediately, or you may feel better tomorrow instead, knowing you have stayed active and engaged.

Look after your body

Physical and mental health are closely related, and one can have an effect on the other. This can work both ways, we know that stress can induce some physical symptoms, and also makes us prioritise the stressors above our own wellbeing. However, it also works the other way, taking the time to make sure we are eating well and exercising can support our body and helps our mind feel clear enough to tackle challenges, as well as giving us one less thing to worry about.

Food eating well makes our body feel and work better, and helps us to feel in control of an aspect of our life
Sleep getting too little makes us tired, which can impede mental function and can lead to exhaustion. Getting too much can make us feel sluggish, which can make our daily tasks difficult to complete. Work out how much sleep is right for you, and try to maintain good sleep hygiene such as turning off phones and screens an hour before bed and keeping technology out of the bedroom, setting up a bedtime routine and a waking routine.
Exercise as well as keeping us in shape and ensuring our body is functioning correctly, exercise can also release endorphins which make us feel happy, so it boosts our wellbeing in both the short and long term
Drink and Drugs these can help us feel happier in the short term but have consequences on our long term mental and physical health, such as depression, impaired liver functioning, addiction and financial stress. Use these in moderation and trust that your body will feel and work better in the long run, if use is occasional.

Get Personal

Making connections with people can help challenge feelings of loneliness, and give us a feeling of belonging. Being social can feel challenging, particularly if you’re an introvert, or suffer with anxiety. Maintaining positive relationships doesn’t have to involve going “out out” or speaking to strangers if that increases feelings of anxiety or stress, and every interaction is practice for more interactions, so you may find that the more you connect with people, the easier it becomes.

Start with your nearest and dearest make time for your loved ones, whether it’s calling your Mum, skyping your best mate or texting with the gang from school. Keeping in contact strengthens relationships.
Find people with shared interests think about what you love to do, and join a local group. This could be gardening, sport, crafts, music, or anything you like. Meeting new people can increase your confidence, and it’s far easier when you know you have something in common to talk about. This is also a good way to increase your support network
Identify who you can share your feelings withopening up about your feelings can help you feel listened to and supported. Acknowledging your feelings by saying them out loud can help to release them or make them feel manageable.
Find peer support it can help to find people in similar circumstances to us to talk to, as they can understand things and have experience with things that may not be obvious to our friends and family if they haven’t got any similar experience. It can also help to share resources and ideas. There are groups online for specific issues, such as on Facebook, and Mind’s Elefriends community, or you could see if there are local support groups.
Volunteer volunteering can give a great sense of achievement and purpose, as you are helping others and can often see the direct results of the help you are giving. It can also give us perspective, and widens our experience of the world. Have a look at the Do It website for opportunities to volunteer in the UK, such as local schools and hospices.

Elefriends – Online Peer Support

Do It – Voluntunteering Opportunities

For more information, visit:

Mind: How to Improve your Mental Wellbeing

NHS: 5 steps to mental wellbeing

Best Apps for Mental Wellbeing

For Further Information and Support:

Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.