Five ways to improve your wellbeing
We all know that staying physically healthy is so important. But what about our mental wellbeing?
Research shows that there are five simple steps you can take to help you feel more positive and get the most out of life. From chatting to loved ones, staying active and learning something new, there are a few things we can all do to stay happy, healthy and fulfilled.
Try the five steps below to improve your mental wellbeing.
1. Connect with others
- Phone, text or email someone. Even better, contact a relative or friend you haven’t spoken to for a while.
- Say hello to your neighbours, smile at people in the street and chat to shop assistants when you're out and about.
- Join a class or a social group to meet new people.
2. Get active
- Go for a jog or a walk, or do some gardening.
- Clean your home and do some decluttering.
- Follow an exercise programme or join a class.
- Try gentle movement such as tai chi, yoga or Pilates.
- Walk up and down the stairs or do chair-based exercises.
3. Learn something new
- Watch a documentary or read a non-fiction book.
- Learn a language or try a new hobby.
- Join an activity group to learn from others.
- Try some new recipes in the kitchen.
- Attend an online class or improve your technology skills by using a new device or app.
4. Give back
- Say thank you to someone for something they have done for you.
- Spend time with loved ones who need support or company.
- Help someone with DIY or a work project.
- Volunteer in your community.
- Give someone a gift.
5. Take notice of your surroundings
- Have a bath or a shower and notice the feeling of the water and bubbles on your skin.
- Pay attention to the textures and flavours in your meals.
- Pot some plants and notice how they smell and feel.
- Take time to assess how your body feels during the day — are any parts more tense or relaxed than others?
- Pay attention to your breathing — notice how your breath feels as you inhale and exhale.
Mindfulness
Taking notice of your surroundings, your body, your thoughts and your feelings can help to improve your mental wellbeing. Some people call this practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a form of meditation where you try to make yourself truly present in any situation.
Always ask if you’re unsure of something
There’s no such thing as a silly question. If you are a Blind Veterans UK beneficiary and need more information, call our helpline on 0300 111 22 33.
If you are not yet a Blind Veterans UK beneficiary, you can find more information in our urgent help section.
You can also get advice about sight loss from the RNIB. Contact the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999, email them or say ‘Alexa, call RNIB helpline’ to an Alexa-enabled device.
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