Image Credit: Scottish Government, Clear Your Head Campaign
Looking after our mental health and wellbeing
Everyone has mental health and the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of looking after our mental health as well as our physical health.
Lots of research has been done which highlights things we can do every day to support our mental wellbeing and The New Economic Foundation suggests the following five ways to better wellbeing.
If you click on the links below you will be taken to more information about how High Life Highland can help you with the five ways to wellbeing.
If you would like more information or assistance please get in touch with us: [email protected]
Connect with High Life Highland ←click here
Connect with the people around you: family; friends; colleagues and neighbours. Think of these connections as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day. Staying in touch with loved ones can make us feel happier and more secure; and often just having a chat can help to lift our mood.
- Put five minutes aside to ask someone how they are
- Arrange to meet up with friends that you haven’t seen in a while
- Join a local group or club and meet new people in your community
Be Active with High Life Highland ←click here
Being active isn’t just good for our physical health; it’s also proven to have a positive effect on our mental health and wellbeing.
Whether you’re exercising indoors in your local gym or outside it makes you feel good. Ok, it can be a bit uncomfortable sometimes when you get hot and sweaty or a bit breathless but the buzz you get from achieving your goals and from being active makes it all worth it! You can do anything to be active from walking, running, cycling, play a game, gardening or dancing.
Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness there are lots of options to help with this in High Life Highland.
Take Notice with High Life Highland
Whether you’re spending time with friends or taking a moment for yourself, try to stop to take notice and be aware of the present. Savour the moment, whether you are out for a walk, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling, reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
- Set aside time to practise mindfulness or take up yoga
- Take notice of how your friends or colleagues are feeling
- Spend time outdoors, enjoy the fresh air and notice what’s around you
Learn with High Life Highland
Learning enhances your self-esteem and confidence, and can be a great way to meet new people. Try something new or rediscover an old interest. Set yourself a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you feel more confident as well as it being great fun.
- Sign up for a class and learn something new
- Take on a new responsibility at work
- Rediscover an old interest, such as cooking or gardening
- Take on a new challenge to make or fix something
Give with High Life Highland
Giving can be very rewarding and those who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy. Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
- Volunteer your time for a cause you are passionate about
- Join a community group
- Spend time with someone who you know has been having a difficult time
