Introducing the Five Ways to Wellbeing

At Investing in Wellbeing we know that now more than ever, in a world full of pressures, feeling good is not a given. Good health and wellbeing often requires intentional practice, to give yourself opportunities for happiness, health and prosperity to grow. One simple way to think about improving your wellbeing is to follow the “five ways to wellbeing”, an initiative supported by the NHS and mental health organisations across the UK. 

Step 1. Connect with others. Relationships, connection and community are invaluable when it comes to maintaining good wellbeing. Examples that you can try include: calling a friend or relative; spending your lunch break with a colleague; joining a club, sports team or other group that meet regularly; scheduling regular time with family or friends such as meals or movie nights. 

Step 2. Get active. We know that being physically active is good for your health but it is also great for self-esteem, achievement and a sense of purpose. Being active within the limits of your ability may look like: home workouts; going for a walk; joining a gym; joining a sports team; taking the stairs rather than the lift; taking on a challenge such as a marathon; you may find it helpful to get involved with more gentle activity such as yoga. 

Step 3. Keep learning. In learning new skills, people often find they increase their self-esteem, their sense of purpose and have the opportunity to develop new relationships. Learning new skills might include: taking up a new hobby; starting a DIY project; learning a language; challenging yourself at work or in another arena where you already feel comfortable; picking back up an old skill. Remember it can be helpful to set small, achievable goals in the first instance. 

Step 4. Give. The research indicates that in being generous and kind, we can improve our wellbeing. It can help create a sense of self-worth and bring us closer to others. Giving does not need to include really big or expensive gestures, it can include small acts of kindness too. Examples include: intentionally complimenting another person; offering to help with a task; fundraising for charity; volunteering; spending time with others who you know are struggling or who are lonely; being a good listener to others. 

Step 5. Take notice. Taking notice is also known as “mindfulness”. It involves paying attention to the world around you, as well as your own internal world, and just noticing what is happening. Mindfulness has been shown to help people change the way they relate to themselves and the world around them. 

Mindfulness can be a tricky skill to learn but there are a lot of resources out there. A good place to start practising is with your breath… take a moment to notice, without any judgement, what happens throughout your body when you are breathing. Pay attention to your nose, mouth, throat, chest and abdomen and observe the changes that occur with each inhale and exhale. If your mind gets distracted, don’t worry about it, just refocus yourself back on the task.