Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:
- help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth
- give you an opportunity to share positive experiences
- provide emotional support and allow you to support others
Five ways to wellbeing
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to help improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
- raising your self-esteem
- helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
- causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood
Read about exercise guidelines and workouts to help improve your fitness and wellbeing
Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
- boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem
- helping you to build a sense of purpose
- helping you to connect with others
Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.
Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:
- creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
- giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
- helping you connect with other people
It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.
Some examples of the things you could try include:
- saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you
- asking friends, family or colleagues how they are and really listening to their answer
- spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company
- offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project
- volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
Read more about mindfulness, including steps you can take to be more mindful in your everyday life.
Live well
The NHS has information and advice about healthy living, including eating a balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, and sleep and tiredness to help you to live well.
One You Lincolnshire can also support you to make small, sustainable changes to improve your health and wellbeing, helping you to:
- lose weight
- move more
- stop smoking
- drink less alcohol
Visit One You Lincolnshire for information about their free health and wellbeing programmes, and to sign up.
Find activities to boost your wellbeing
Find activities and events that support your health and wellbeing by searching our directories. From music groups and gardening clubs to men's sheds and dementia friendly community cafes, our directories help you connect with other people, be more physically active, learn new skills, give to others or be present in the moment.
You can also use Let's Move Lincolnshire's activity finder to find clubs and activities which are happening in your area like walking football, yoga, table tennis and much more.
Visit Mind for more information about how incorporating physical activity into your lifestyle can help with managing stress and anxiety, improving sleep and boosting your mood.
