When we talk about wellbeing it encompasses not just physical fitness and health, but also mental health. What helps one person to improve their wellbeing may not work for someone else, but there are many ways to improve your wellbeing that can help you make a positive change.
Improve your wellbeing by joining a club and expanding your social links, swapping meals for a healthier alternative, or starting to visit the gym a few times a week. These changes may seem like small steps, but over time they can add up to a meaningful change.
Set realistic goals
In order to improve at a steady pace, it is important to set goals that you can meet. For example, if you have a very busy schedule a run each day probably won’t be feasible and twice a week would be a more achievable goal to start off with.
Here are a few ways to build up an achievable and positive goal
- Join a club – There are lots of running and swimming clubs out there offering support for newcomers who are new to the sport. Having others from the club there to support you in achieving your goals is a fantastic confidence booster. More niche interests such as ballet, or water sports like windsurfing, are best learned with the support of your local club so that you can enjoy the activity with friends and family.
- Create reminders – Often when you get busy with a project, or work, you might forget about the runs or changes to your routine which you have planned. Creating reminders on your phone, or even just sticky notes on the door, can remind you to continue with your efforts.
- Meet friends – If you are the only one going to the gym or for a run, and not feeling like going on the day, it is easy to back out. If you have made plans with friends to go together it will not only motivate you to go, but give you company for your trip. Having friends who are backing you up as you gradually increase your exercise can be a great feeling.
- Shared goals – Creating a set of shared family goals can be an excellent way to create a good rhythm within your new routine. Setting up a series of shared family outings, such as a group cycle at least once a week, can help you to feel more motivated and bring an element of companionship and enjoyment to your interactions.
- Sleep – Getting enough sleep will give you the energy to keep up with your day as well as help you to maintain your mental health. During sleep your mind and body are, in essence, recharging for the day ahead, so it is vital to get enough rest for the busy days ahead of you.
Create a routine
Having a set routine in place to help you to maintain your wellbeing is a great way to help you keep up your regime over an extended period of time. For example, taking a short walk each morning and evening will be easy to maintain and will make sure you have regular time outside to enjoy the natural world. Planning each day of the week and finding time within your schedule for alone time or an activity is a good way to create a solid routine.
Before creating your plan, it is important to think about what it is you want from your goals. Are you invested in having more time to de-stress by working on your hobbies and interests, or are you attempting to increase your fitness using a running club? Often we are busy people even before factoring in our efforts at maintaining our wellbeing, so it is important to prioritise our time. If you don’t have enough time to spend an hour outside running often, or your club is a good distance away, finding small spaces of time within the day to practise – such as ten minutes practising mindfulness after breakfast – can be a very rewarding experience.
Enjoy Yourself
Spending time enjoying hobbies is an excellent way for you to maintain your mental health. If you are interested in painting, then setting aside time to do some sketching or painting at the weekends will help you stay centred.
Here are some fantastic hobbies that can help you improve your overall wellbeing this winter:
- Art – Learning how to draw or paint is a brilliant hobby to take up as an adult, and bringing a notepad and pencil with you on walks can give you a way to practise by sketching the natural world you find around you. Everyday objects, such as leaves, can make great subjects for art and can help you refine your painting.
- Music – Listening to music, especially classical music, can be a good way to boost your mental wellbeing. Music is food for the soul, and can also act as a great backtrack to any exercise you are doing. Ask friends and family for recommendations of new bands and artists
- Group Activities – Going to a club or running group regularly can help you get in touch with like-minded people and help you find a new social circle. With so many more people working from home and not going in to the office, it can be difficult to find the time to socialise.
- Walking – Taking regular walks outside is a great way to improve your wellbeing and fitness. Taking a break and heading outdoors is a wonderful way to unwind after a long day. Making your daily walks into a family activity can also be great fun – encouraging your kids to enjoy the natural world is very rewarding.
- Water sports – Especially in the summer, water sports can be a great family activity to try. Both canoeing and paddleboarding can be excellent ways to explore the coast, rivers or reservoirs in your local area. If you are unsure, booking a class to learn about these sports can be a great way to get started.
If you are interested in taster sessions or visiting Bewl Water for a run, then please contact us here. Our staff will be able to guide you towards classes and activities that will work well for you and your schedule.