A young girl with colourful hair and wearing glasses looking straight ahead and smiling.

Wellbeing is much broader than simply how happy you are. It also includes how satisfied you are with your life, your sense of purpose, and how in control you feel.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing are simple actions to practice each day to maintain or improve our mental health and wellbeing.

The New Economics Foundation developed the set of evidence-based actions in 2008. The project examined research from across the world on proven actions that can help us to feel good and function well.

 

  • Small improvements in wellbeing can increase our ability to lead a more fulfilling life.

     

  • Each action in the Five Ways to Wellbeing can make a positive difference to your life.

     

  • The Five Ways to Wellbeing are free and easy to incorporate into your life.

     

  • You are probably doing some of these actions already without being aware of it.

1. Connect

Make time each day to Connect – with your family, friends and neighbours. By staying connected and nurturing these relationships, you’ll become happier and more secure.

 

2. Be Active

Try to find a way to be active every day. Walking, running, skipping, dancing are all great ways to increase your physical activity and improve your mental health and wellbeing.

 

3. Take Notice

It’s important to be aware of the world around you, to be curious about nature and to take note of the changing seasons.

Pay attention to how you are feeling in the present moment.

 

4. Keep Learning

Learning isn’t just about sitting at a desk and reading books. You can learn a new recipe, a new instrument or even master a new TikTok dance! Setting yourself challenges and learning a skill is a great way to boost your mental health.

 

5. Give

Giving to others is not only good for them, it’s good for you too. But it doesn’t have to be money or things – you can do something nice for your parents, thank someone or volunteer for a good cause. Taking the time to help others will do wonders for your sense of wellbeing!

Credit: Mental Health Ireland