Five ways to wellbeing
According to research by the New Economics Foundation, there are five key ways to wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give.
Connect
Connecting with the people around us is a great way to remind ourselves that we’re important and valued by others.
Here are some suggestions for staying connected:
- Arrange to meet people regularly. You could have a monthly dinner with friends or join a local interest group.
- Reach out to someone for a catch up over the phone.
- Join a club or take part in a workshop. Our Alliance members offer lots of opportunities to meet new people and find community. Find the list of groups you can get involved with here.
Be active
By regularly engaging in some form of exercise we can look after our mental and physical health at the same time.
Here are some ways to become more active:
- Join a local sports club – is there a sport you have always wanted to try?
- Step outside every day, even if it’s just for a quick breath of fresh air.
- Add stretches or gentle movements to your daily routine.
- Dance in your chair to your favourite music.
Some of our Alliance members offer fun activities to add exercise or movement into your routine. Here’s just a few examples:
- Forces Wives Challenge CIC who organise adventurous activities, both in the UK and abroad.
- Sporting Memories help older people to reminisce, replay and reconnect through the power of sport and physical activity.
- The Glasgow Veterans United programme offers veterans a welcoming weekly walking football session and social space.
- Walk, Talk and Brew gives veterans a safe space to socialise with others in similar circumstances, whilst engaging in some light exercise.
- On Course Foundation provide golf activities for wounded veterans in Scotland.
- Sport and Partnership Service arrange and hold various sporting events throughout Scotland for veterans who have a visual impairment.
- The Journey Fitness provide weekly support for veterans with a dedicated small-group personal training session in Helensburgh every Friday.
Take notice
Taking notice of our thoughts, emotions and surroundings is a great way to stay present and pay attention to our needs.
Here’s some suggestions for taking notice:
- Take up a mindful hobby like fishing, painting, drawing, woodworking, photography, writing or crafting.
- Write down three things in your life you feel grateful for.
- Allocate time in the evening to reflect on what went well that day.
- Spend time bird watching in your local area.
- Listen to the sounds of nature, like rain or wind.
- Watch the sunrise or sunset and reflect on your day.
Keep learning
Learning new things is a good way to meet new people and boost our self-confidence, which in turn improves our mental health and wellbeing.
Here are some ideas to keep learning:
- Try out a new recipe once in a while.
- Join a class to learn a new language or musical instrument.
- Learn something new about the people around you.
- Take up a new hobby like photography, fishing, woodworking, writing, painting, or cooking.
- Read a book on a subject you know little about.
- Join a local class or workshop. Our Alliance members offer lots of fun activities for veterans you could try, from kiltmaking to archaeology, find out what’s available to you here.
Give
Research has found a link between doing good things and an increase in wellbeing.
Here are some suggestions to give more:
- Organise a community clean-up event.
- Share your skills by teaching a class or workshop.
- Try and do one kind thing every day.
- Bake treats and share them with neighbours or friends.
- Make handmade gifts for loved ones.
- Write positive reviews for local businesses.
- Volunteer with a charity or local cause. Many of our Alliance members have opportunities for you to volunteer. See the full list of organisations here.
This page was created by Health in Mind. To learn more about what Health in Mind does, please visit www.health-in-mind.org.uk