5 Ways to Wellbeing
This half term, we are starting a new whole school initiative, the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’.
The five ways to wellbeing have actually been around since 2008. They were researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation; providing evidence to suggest that these 5 ways to wellbeing improve mental health and happiness.
What are the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’?
Connect – Connecting with the people around us is a great way to remind ourselves that we’re important and valued by others. E.g. speak with a family member or friend, reach out to someone, take time to get to know others.
Be Active – By regularly engaging in some form of exercise we can look after our mental and physical health at the same time. E.g. go for a walk, join a sports club, try gardening, hula hoop.
Take Notice – Taking notice of our thoughts, emotions and surroundings is a great way to stay present and pay attention to our needs. E.g. take up a mindful hobby such as knitting, write down three things you feel grateful for, play ‘I spy’.
Keep Learning – Learning new things is a good way to meet new people and boosts our self-confidence, which in turn improves our mental health and wellbeing. E.g. try out a new recipe, learn a new language.
Give – Research has found a link between doing good things and an increase in wellbeing. E.g. try and do one kind thing every day, smile and say thank you, share with others, do some fundraising.
We will keep you informed about what we are doing in school related to the 5 ways of wellbeing by uploading information on to this page of the school website and by sharing our work on twitter.
Useful Links
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
https://www.mindkit.org.uk/5-ways-to-wellbeing/
https://www.health-in-mind.org.uk/resources/5_ways_to_wellbeing/d140/