5 Ways to Wellbeing NHS

There are 5 ways to wellbeing outlined by the NHS.  The aim is that you would complete something from each of the 5 categories each day.

These are outlined below with suggested activities:

The Five Ways to Wellbeing are to:

  • Connect –connect with people around you.  With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.  At home, work, school or your local community.  Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them.  Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
  • Give –Do something nice for someone else.  Thank someone, smile, volunteer your time, join a community group.  Look out as well as in.  Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and makes connections with the people around you.
  • Be active – swap your interactive pursuits for active ones.  Go for a walk, step outside, cycle, play a game, climb a tree. Being active makes you feel good.  Discover a physical activity that you enjoy.
  • Take Notice – Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful and remark on the unusual. Spend tme in nature, notice the changing seasons, savour the moment whether you are walking to school, eating lunch or spending time with friends.  Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling.  Reflecting on your experiences will help you to appreciate what matters to you.
  • Keep Learning – Try something new. Rediscover an old interest.  Sign up for that course. Take on different responsibilities at work. Fix a bike. Learn play an instrument or to cook your favourite food.  Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving.  Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
  • Each action can be undertaken individually or collectively as part of everyday activity.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing may help young people:

  • Make the most of opportunities and deal with stressful situations by taking time out and learning how to cope when things get tough.
  • Increase their interpersonal skills, empathy and communication skills through giving and seeing themselves as part of the wider community.
  • Increase their self-worth by taking notice of what they are good at and what they have to offer others