What is wellbeing?
Sarah Stewart-Brown, professor of public health at Warwick
University and a wellbeing expert, says that when we talk about
mental wellbeing, we mean more than just happiness.
“It’s useful to start with the idea that overall wellbeing
involves both the mind and the body. And we know that physical and
mental wellbeing are closely related.
“Of course, feeling happy is a part of mental wellbeing. But it
is far from the whole. There is a deeper kind of wellbeing, which
is about living in a way that is good for you and good for others
around you.
“Feelings of contentment, enjoyment, confidence and engagement
with the world are all a part of mental wellbeing. Self-esteem and
self-confidence are, too.
“So is a feeling that you can do the things you want to do. And
so are good relationships, which bring joy to you and those around
you.
“Of course, good mental wellbeing does not mean that you never
experience feelings or situations that you find difficult. But it
does mean that you feel you have the resilience to cope when times
are tougher than usual.”
Mental wellbeing can take many different forms, but a useful
description is feeling good and functioning well.
Five steps to mental wellbeing
Evidence suggests there are five steps we can all take to
improve our mental wellbeing.
If you approach them with an open mind and try them, you can
judge the results yourself.
Connect
Connect with the people around you: your family, friends,
colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these
relationships.
Be active
You don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play
a game of football. Find the activity that you enjoy, and make it a
part of your life.
Keep learning
Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a
new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start
learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix
your bike?
Give to others
Even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank
you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local
community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you
build new social networks.
Take notice
Be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and
thoughts, your body and the world around you. Some people call this
awareness “mindfulness”, and it can positively change the way you
feel about life and how you approach challenges.
Please note: the information on this page has
been taken from
NHS Choices website where you can find more information related
to Mental Wellbeing.