Keeping Your Mind Healthy: 5 Ways To Wellbeing

Your mental wellbeing is really important to keep healthy, just like your physical health. Having good wellbeing can be difficult because your mind can dwell on the negative. But you can train your mind to be healthier! Here’s 5 things you can do every day to boost your mental health and wellbeing. 

This article is also available in Welsh. I ddarllen y cynnwys yma yn Gymraeg  – clicia yma

Connect 

Connect with people around you like your family, friends, peers and neighbours. Instead of sending someone a text or commenting on their social media posts, call them or ask to meet up in person. That way, you can find out how someone is really doing and give them an opportunity to connect with you.  

You can also connect with strangers by smiling, saying hello or asking about their day.  

If you’d like to make new connections, consider joining a club or group so you can meet new people who enjoy similar things to you.  

Spending meaningful time with people every day can help you feel connected and less lonely, improving your wellbeing.  

Get active 

When we exercise, happy chemicals called endorphins are released into our brains which can help to ease pain and make us feel more positive.  

You don’t have to run a marathon, but instead, look for small, achievable ways that you can be active every day. Maybe you could go for a walk or run, stretch, or dance like nobody is watching. You could play a game outside with your friends or siblings or follow a free video workout (there will be loads available on YouTube).

The most important thing is to move your body in a way that you enjoy and suits your mobility and fitness level.

Learn something new 

Learning doesn’t have to just happen at school, college, university or work. You can learn more about things that interest you and make you happy in your own time.  

Finding something new that interests you (or rediscovering an old interest) can give you a sense of fulfilment. To learn something new, you could: 

• sign up for a course 
• try to fix something 
• take on a new responsibility 
• learn to play a musical instrument 
• attempt a new recipe 
• learn a new language  
• find out about a different culture  

Learning can be fun and may help you feel more confident, boosting your self-esteem. You might be able to learn something new with the help of someone, and in return, you could teach them something they’d like to learn! 

Be mindful 

Be present in the here and now, rather than thinking about the past or worrying about the future. This is a skill called mindfulness that you can practice to help you pay attention to your present thoughts and feelings.  

To help you do this, notice what’s going on in the world around you right now. What can you see, touch, taste, hear, and smell? Being mindful of the present can help you appreciate life at that moment and give your mind a break.  

Give to others 

Giving is about doing small acts of kindness for other people. You don’t need to do anything big or give something that costs a lot of money. In fact, giving your time, words, or a smile can go a very long way. Even the smallest acts of kindness make a difference.  

You could do something kind for someone you care about, or even a stranger, such as: 

• write a nice note 
• make someone a cup of tea 
• donate to charity  
• volunteer  
• compliment someone  
• help somebody with a task  
• ask someone if they need anything 

Even asking a person how they are and taking time to listen to their answer is a great way to give.  

Giving to others can help us feel good about ourselves as we know we have helped someone. It can be very rewarding to be giving, and it may also help you create better connections with others.  

Make sure that you thank people and show appreciation for their kindness too. 

More Information 

The NHS has some helpful mental wellbeing audio guides to help you get through feelings like worry and stress and boost your mood.  

The Welsh Government has created a Young Person’s Mental Health Toolkit that you may find helpful. 

Check out the 5 Ways To Wellbeing TikTok below, created by young people from the Cardiff and Vale Health Youth Board.

Want to talk?

If you need to talk confidentially about anything that’s worrying you, whether that be about your mental health or anything else, then Meic is here to listen and offer advice every day between 8am and midnight. Text, Call or chat to us online.