Mental Health Awareness Week: 5 ways to Wellbeing

This week is national mental health awareness week so to celebrate here is the first of a series of 5 blogs taking a deeper dive into what I affectionately call ‘the 5 welfare needs of humans’.

At the PDSA we strongly promote the 5 welfare needs for pets, and the concept of prevention rather than cure. I think that’s why I instantly liked the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ campaign: 5 methodical steps that have been researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation to foster good mental wellbeing.

Busy people can find it hard to free up the mental energy needed to start working on mental wellbeing, even if we know that we need to. While the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ campaign is no panacea for mental health, it does create a simple framework to follow, giving structure to what can be quite a woolly and abstract concept. While this is not new, it is worth re-visiting given the effects the current pandemic can have on mental health.

In this series I will be suggesting ideas on how to work on these 5 areas, whether you have just a few minutes or several hours to spare. It’s important to not put too much pressure on yourself. If you only have a few minutes to spare then being realistic and plan to take one teeny weeny step in the direction of better wellbeing. Those baby steps soon add up, and by consciously dedicating even a small amount of time for managing our mental health, we are prioritising it.

Get your creative juices flowing and try to think of things that inspire you. After all no two of us are the same. We know that people who vividly describe or picture their goals in writing are more likely to successfully accomplish them. What stands between you and action, may just be the humble paper and pen. What do you have to lose?

Disclaimer: No worming or flea treatment needed.

Learn

Research shows that learning helps to improve our wellbeing. It boosts self-esteem and confidence, helps us deal with stress, gives a sense of purpose and often leads to connections with other like-minded people. Learning provides us with goals, and goals are thought to help us feel motivated and give us a sense of accomplishment.

A few minutes to spare?

• Check out a popular TED talk. These are short, inspiring and motivational mini-lectures on all sorts of topics. I love this one on ‘the surprising science of happiness’.
• Read an article or blog written on a subject, or by a person that interests you.
• Learn a new word every day, or try a crossword or Sudoku puzzle.
• Download an app for meditation such as Calm or headspace.
• Want to brush up on a language? Use Duolingo. You will be amazed what you can achieve in just a few minutes every day.

An hour to spare?

• Sign up for a class such such as yoga (check out vetyogi), sign language, or anything that interests you. Can you re-ignite a childhood passion?
• Listen to a podcast that interests you. Check out audible for ideas. A fellow vet hosts a wonderful podcast celebrating inspiring women ‘smashing the ceiling’. Check it out.
• Learn to cook a new dish. Try BBC good food for some inspiration.  

A while to spare?

• Check out online courses on sites such as  Futurelearn, futureversity, Udemy, and even Open University if you want to start something more long-term.  
• Take a virtual tour of a museum such as the Natural History Museum in London.
• Learn a new skill such as crochet, knitting or DIY. There are many online classes and forums to help you on your way.

Taking up hobbies and gaining skills and achievements outside of our veterinary world can make us into more well-rounded individuals, give us a non-veterinary identity, and a mental break from the stressors within veterinary work. Don’t always give into fatigue and lack of energy. While relaxing on the sofa has its place, so does activity.

Out of ideas?

Think about a time, perhaps as a child:

• when you were so absorbed in something that you did not notice time passing.
• when you were doing something that seemed effortless and natural.
• when you were doing something that creates a warm feeling even now.

If something pops into your mind but seems silly, don’t discount it. Remember you are looking for something that interests you, not others. Be as wild and wacky as you want!

I would love to hear what sort of things you are thinking of learning. Pop any comments in the box below.

Coming up next: Step 2 – Take notice: Taking a peek into the world of the present.