Mental Health & Well-being Weekly
Welcome to this week’s Mental Health & Well-being segment.
Taking steps towards self-help is a powerful way to foster personal growth and well-being.
By empowering yourself with the right tools and strategies, you can nurture resilience, improve emotional health, and create positive changes in your life.
Whether you’re seeking ways to reduce stress, build healthier habits, or simply find more balance, we’re here to guide and support you on your journey.
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‘Just do something you enjoy!’
Have official targets made exercise a chore – and happiness more elusive?
We all know roughly how many minutes we should be spending getting sweaty every week, thanks to repeated messages from national governments and the World Health Organization. When it comes to mental health, the picture is a lot less clear.
Gentler, more flexible activity can positively impact mental health, but rigid guidelines risk discouraging those already less active. Experts stress presenting exercise as enjoyable and accessible, avoiding a focus on strict targets, which can diminish joy and add pressure, especially for individuals with fluctuating mental health. Instead, focus on what feels achievable and rewarding in the moment.
How to Keep Moving
1. Prioritise Pleasure
Make physical activity enjoyable by incorporating music, gamification, or the company of a good friend (as long as it’s supportive and non-competitive). Ensure every session ends on a positive note.
2. Finish on a High
The final moments of an activity shape how you remember it, so focus on making the ending feel good—cooldowns are a great way to achieve this.
3. Move Outdoors
Exercising in natural surroundings boosts mental health more than indoor workouts. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature provide unique sensory stimulation.
4. Park Your Goals
Skip rigid targets if you’re struggling mentally. Instead, start with open-ended goals and see how it goes.
5. Find the Right Instructor
Choose someone who builds your confidence, prioritizing fun and participation over pressure.
6. Be Kind to Yourself
On tough days, even small efforts count. Remember, any movement is progress, and it all adds up.
Read the Full Article here
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Weekly Affirmation
Upcoming events
The All New Book Club
As I was so rubbish at getting people together for the last book club, herding cats springs to mind, Well-being will be launching the new book club in conjunction with the wonderful Stephen and the Jersey Library in the new Year. The library has a large list of book club books to lend and we will choose our next good read.
The library will host the club once every 3 weeks, to come along and talk about the book we are reading, with a new book each half term. Just message me by whatever method you prefer and I will add you to the list. I will then set up a group chat on Teams, to keep the conversations rolling.
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