WEBSITE: Well-being (nef)

Post date: Feb 17, 2013 9:45:00 PM

Websites

http://www.neweconomics.org/programmes/well-being

The centre for well-being at the New Economics Foundation (nef) seeks to understand, measure and influence well-being. In particular we ask the question 'what would policymaking look like if its main aim were to promote well-being?'.

Review date 17-2-13

Review

The wellbeing pages sit within the nef site, which includes a range of projects. The wellbeing home page provides links to 7 project areas, each of which has relevant documents to download, with clear links to other relevant pages. The home page also contains links to more than 30 nef wellbeing publications, including 5 Ways to Wellbeing, and the Happy Planet Index. Project pages links to:

The Happy Planet Index: 'The Happy Planet Index shows that it's possible for a nation to have high well-being with a low ecological footprint.'

National Accounts of Well-being: A comprehensive international analysis of well-being which provides an alternative measure of national progress. The standard measure is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which, perversely, can rise as a result of individual misery such as accidents, illness, divorce etc. The proposed new measures (sometimes referred to as GNW – Gross national Wellbeing) aim to take account of the impact of policy on peoples' welbeing.

Five Ways to Well-being: The nef was commissioned to create a set of five simple actions which can improve well-being in everyday life (along the lines of the 5-a-day health promotion message) and based on the latest scientific evidence (see Best Bits).

Children and young people's well-being: This project argues for investing now in the well-being of children and young people, claiming that the UK could save billions in public spending on future social problems.

The Great Transition: A project focusing on finding ways to survive and thrive through financial crises, climate change and the peak and decline of global oil production.

Measuring well-being in Europe: nef has been advising the European Statistics Agency Eurostat on how to measure well-being across Europe. Policy that takes account of the impact on wellbeing will be more beneficial to us all.

Local Government and Public Health: This project is introduced with these two questions - 'How can local governments rise to the challenges of promoting well-being for their citizens within the constraints they face? ' and 'how can the well-being agenda and public health initiatives work together to make better lives for people?'

Academic interest: All research is accessible and downloadable, and each document is fully referenced, and written with academic rigour. Of interest to policy makers, politicians, and academics alike. All of nef's reports are available to download for free, or you can also order printed copies on the website.

Practitioners: Some documents are highly relevant to practitioners in health and mental health – particularly the 5 ways to wellbeing. Many will be of interest to professionals who are concerned with the wellbeing of people of all ages, and to those who are in a position to make or influence policy decisions.

Self-helpers: This site is not really designed for people wishing to help themselves, but the 5 ways to wellbeing postcards are a practical and useful tool for individuals, and can be purchased at a very reasonable price at http://www.neweconomics.org/projects/five-ways-well-being

Best Bits

The 5 ways to wellbeing identified as a result of the commission by the Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing :

Connect...

With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

Be active...

Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

Take notice...

Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

Keep learning...

Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

Give...

Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.

Aked, J., Marks, N., Cordon, C., Thompson , S., 2008, 5 Ways to Wellbeing: The Evidence. London: nef, page 3.

The 5 ways to wellbeing postcards

The wellbeing manifesto for a flourishing society:

'One of the key aims of a democratic government is to promote the good life: a flourishing society, where citizens are happy, healthy, capable and engaged – in other words with high levels of well-being. But in prioritising economic growth at all costs, government has lost sight of this ultimate aim. This manisto seeks to put well-being back at the centre of policymaking.' [Online accessed 17-2-13 found at http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/well-being-manifesto-flourishing-society ]

About the authors

nef (the new economics foundation) is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being. They believe that a successful society is one in which economic activity produces high, sustained levels of well-being for all, without placing unsustainable pressure on environmental resources. nef uniquely combine rigorous analysis and policy debate with practical solutions on the ground, often run and designed with the help of local people. We also create new ways of measuring progress towards increased well-being and environmental sustainability. They work with all sections of society in the UK and internationally - civil society, government, individuals, businesses and academia - to create more understanding and strategies for change. Nic Marks, founder of the nef Centre for Well-being, is also a member of the Board of Action for Happiness.