Your winter Five Ways to Wellbeing
We’re encouraged to eat at least five fruit and vegetables a day to take care of our physical health, but what about our mental health?
Research by the New Economics Foundation found that there are five ways to wellbeing: Connect, Be active, Take notice, Keep learning, Give.
Here are some ideas for winter activities related to the five ways to wellbeing.
Connect
- Set up a group chat with friends and/or family to plan winter activities.
- Write a card to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. For example, use a Health in Mind postcard to write and say Hello!
- Make a playlist for someone in your life and chat about it together.
- Reduce your screen time when you are in company. Put the phone away, close your laptop, turn off the TV and have a chat.
Get active
- Do stretches or gentle movement that works for you.
- If you can, try and get outside every day, even for just 5 minutes. For older adults, consider joining one of Ageing Well’s Health and Wellbeing Walks.
- Go for a walk to see winter decorations and lights in your local community.
Take notice
- Take notice of the seasons changing and the effect it has on your surroundings.
- Buy an amaryllis bulb and watch it grow throughout the winter months.
- Take up a mindful indoor hobby like journaling or knitting. To help you get started journaling, try our Winter Journaling guide.
Keep learning
- Try out a new winter recipe. Find inspiration, guides and recipes on our Cost of Living page.
- Listen to a podcast or audiobook about a topic you don’t know about. For example, many of Midspace’s Self-Help Guides include podcasts to help you learn more about a wide range of topics, from neurodiversity to body image and more!
- Ask questions and learn from the people around you.
- Try a new DIY project you’ve been wanting to do.
Give
- Try and shop local when buying gifts during the festive period.
- Donate or volunteer your time to a cause in your community. To find volunteering opportunities across Midlothian, get in touch with Midlothian Community Action (MCA).
- Raise awareness of causes on social media by sharing posts about issues that are important to you.