Five ways to wellbeing

Taking steps towards living well

A review of the most up-to-date evidence suggests that building the following five actions into our day-to-day lives is important for wellbeing:

Connect,     keep Learning

 be Active,     take Notice,     Give

CLANG!

• Devon Postcards
• A Personal Guide
• Guide (Print Version)
• Report -  How do you get the message across?
• Introductory video (YouTube - 3 minutes)

Five ways to wellbeing is part of the National Foresight Campaign which developed a set of recommendations for actions to improve people’s personal wellbeing. The recommendations are based on evidence from over 400 scientists worldwide and have actually been proven to work.

The Five Ways are:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

Devon materials produced by
Glenn Roberts, Rani Bora, Emma Hoerning, Ann Ley and Melanie Long

Project sponsored by the Devon Recovery Research and Development Group

Booklet authored by Drs Rani Bora and Emma Hoerning
To contact them by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For further information see Looking after Yourself at www.devonpartnership.nhs.uk or contact Devon Partnership NHS Trust Communications Department 01392 663912