Five Steps to Mental Wellbeing.
We are going through a difficult time in which everybody has been impacted in some way. Each of my previous 3 posts have highlighted the importance of taking control of things we can influence in order to maximise our physical and mental wellbeing.
The last post focused on mindfulness for mental health. Here we will expand on that a little and look at five steps that evidence suggests we can take to enhance our mental wellbeing. By focusing on each of these five points, we may be able to boost our positivity and get the most out of our lives.
-
Connect with other people
Developing and maintaining good relationships is important for our mental health. They help to create a sense of wellbeing, whilst providing emotional support for both parties. They also provide an environment in which to share positive experiences.
-
Be active
It is well documented how beneficial being active is for our physical health, but it is just as beneficial for our mental wellbeing. It can help to raise our self-esteem, allows us to set and achieve goals and challenges. It also effects activity in the brain which leads to positive changes in mood.
…Learn more about being physically active in my previous blog post
-
Learn new skills.
Learning a new skill is evidenced to improve mental wellbeing by boosting both self confidence and self-esteem. It may help by creating a sense of purpose and allowing us to form connections with people.
These don’t have to be big time consuming skills. It could be trying new hobbies, taking on responsibilities at work, or learning to cook something new.
…Learn more about diet for wellbeing in my previous blog post
-
Give to others
Acts of giving can create positive feelings and a sense of reward, promoting feelings of purpose and self-worth by connecting with other people. Research demonstrates that this can positively boost our mental wellbeing.
-
Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)
Paying closer attention to our thoughts and feelings in the immediate moment may help us develop a positive awareness (mindfulness) that may influence our mental wellbeing. Mindfulness can improve the way we feel about life and effect how we approach obstacles and challenges.
…Read more about mindfulness in my previous blog post
You can read and learn more about the five steps to mental wellbeing on the MIND website
