Family Wellbeing
5 Ways to Wellbeing
Taking care of our mental health and checking in on others is something that we can all do, and we need to remember that by looking after our own mental health, we’ll be best placed to look after our children. Remember when they tell you on aeroplanes that you need to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others, it’s like that.
Time is precious, especially when looking after children. However, try to plan your days or weeks to include something from each of the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ (developed by the New Economics Foundation)
BE ACTIVE
Try to make sure that you and your family get regular exercise every day. You Tube has lots of exercise videos for kids and adults. Get children involved in planning their own ‘indoor PE’.
If current government advice permits, try to get outside once a day either into your garden if you have one or in a place where there are few people. If you can’t go out, open the windows for some fresh air and take some time to look at the world outside.
TAKE NOTICE
Take a break from the news and social media and concentrate on what’s happening in the here and now in your family. Notice and appreciate the small things.
Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your wellbeing.
There’s lots of good mindfulness apps to try, but if that’s not for you, just getting into something you enjoy (e.g. cooking, drawing) and really focusing on it can be just as good.
CONNECT
Social connection is one of the most important ways that we can look after our mental wellbeing. Social distancing is going to make that trickier, but we’re lucky enough to have technology to help us out. Think physical distancing, but social connections.
Social media is great, but if you can, try to have phone calls or even video calls. Arrange to Facetime/Skype a friend for coffee, phone relatives more often than usual.
Whilst it can be helpful to share worries, try to find other things to talk about too.
GIVE
Research tells us that giving back to our community helps people to feel valuable and makes us happier. We might not be able to contribute to our community in our usual way, but many people will still be able to find ways to give back.
Lots of community groups are setting up schemes that aim to help vulnerable people at this difficult time. If you want to get involved, check out local social media for ideas.
Many of us will not be in a position to offer practical support. We can still offer mutual support to friends and family by checking in with them regularly.
KEEP LEARNING
Learning a new skill or honing an existing one gives us a sense of purpose and achievement.
Whilst we’re busy learning, we’re less likely to experience anxious thoughts and worries.
Social-distancing will bring new challenges, but it will give many of us the time to start a new hobby or learn about an area that we’ve always been interested in.