World Wellbeing Week 2021!
World Wellbeing Week provides a great opportunity to talk about all things well-being (which we love to do!)
We have certainly all been challenged over the past year when it comes to our mental and physical wellbeing.
Staying at home and not being able to take part in our usual activities has meant we have all had to adapt. From taking care of our physical health by switching to zoom fitness classes or walking around the local park, to understanding what makes us happy and how to fulfil this without the normal go-to of getting together with friends and family.
It’s been really tough! The pandemic experience has been different for all of us but we humans are creatures of habit and when a sudden change happens it is unsettling.
So what exactly is wellbeing?
Wellbeing is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy”.
However, well-being is much more complex than being happy in the present moment. Of course, it includes happiness, but it also includes things such as someone’s sense of purpose, how satisfied they feel, as a whole, about their life, how in control they feel and a number of other external factors. With this in mind, the New Economics Foundation describes wellbeing as:
“Wellbeing can be understood as how people feel and how they function, both on a personal and a social level, and how they evaluate their lives as a whole”.
What factors can affect our wellbeing?
Factors can be anything from how we feel ‘in ourselves’ to external factors such as our environment and our finances. Our wellbeing will change over our lives depending on these factors, here are some examples;
- Personal wellbeing – mental health, how satisfied we feel, our sense of purpose, our worth, our resilience, our self-esteem
- Health – both physical and mental health, are we well, do we struggle with our health
- Relationships – are we happy in our relationships, do we have people we can rely on, do we feel lonely or isolated
- What we do – our employment status and whether we are satisfied at work, our participation in leisure activities, our social life, volunteering, our spiritual belief system (read more about how to help returning to work anxiety after lockdown here)
- Where we live – do we feel safe where we live, are we near green spaces, sense of community and belonging, satisfied with housing, do we have access to key services
- Finance – are we satisfied with income or are we struggling
- Environment – air and water quality where we live, access to green spaces
- Education and skills – if we are engaged in formal or informal learning
- Governance – how much we trust government and institutions, do we participate in democratic processes
How can we improve our wellbeing?
Whilst World Wellbeing Week may raise awareness, it is important to remember there is no ‘one size fits all’ way in which to improve our wellbeing. We will all be motivated and affected by different things that are present in our lives. What we can do is make an effort to learn about wellbeing, what makes us feel happy and what factors affect how well we cope with everyday life, which we can then use to create a personal wellbeing plan.
For example, the things that affect my well-being most are my health (both physical and mental) friends and family, my purpose at work and my self-esteem. Paying attention to these factors in my everyday life such as arranging to see those I love, having a work/life balance and being kind to others so I boost my self-esteem is really important to maintaining my wellbeing.
Some other things we already know to improve our overall wellbeing are;
- eating a good diet
- getting enough sleep
- connecting with others (read more about the importance of good friendships for mental health and wellbeing here)
- exercising
- relaxing
- talking about how we feel
Action for Happiness
Here at SkillBase First Aid, we love Action for Happiness – a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society.
Based on the latest research, they identified these 10 keys that consistently tend to make life happier and more fulfilling. Together they spell “GREAT DREAM”. Click on the links below to read more about each key…
Giving – Do things for others
Relating – Connect with other people
Exercising – Take care of your body
Awareness – Live life mindfully
Trying Out – Keep learning new things
Direction – Have goals to look forward to
Resilience – Find ways to bounce back
Emotions – Look for what’s good
Acceptance – Be comfortable with who you are
Meaning – Be part of something bigger
They also produce a monthly calendar that is packed with actions you can take to help create a happier and kinder world, here in June!
Remember, small things can make a real difference – why not try making a list of the things that make up your own personal wellbeing!
Further reading!
5 steps to mental wellbeing (from the NHS)
Health & Wellbeing (from Mental health Foundation)
Guidance on mental health and wellbeing during Coronvirus (from Gov.uk)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for employees
With 1 in 5 employees experiencing moderate to high levels of stress, it is crucial to look at how you can support, educate and empower your employees with training such as Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is designed to reduce stigma and teach practical skills that can be used every day in the workplace. It teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and provide help on a first aid basis.
We have a dedicated Mental Health Training Specialist to consult with you and your organisation on strategy, implementing MHFA, and all wellbeing-related policies.
Want to book a FREE 30-minute consultation?
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