Wellbeing

If there's something that helps you relax, try to find time to fit it into your day. 

For example, this could be having a bath or going for a walk. 

If you find it difficult to switch off, you could try some of the tips and exercises in our relaxation pages.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by a stressful situation, try to take a break. 

A change of scene can help you to relax and relieve feelings of anxiety, even just for a few minutes.

Try to make time to do an activity you like on a regular basis. 

This could be something small, like cooking a meal, calling a friend or listening to music.

If you're under a lot of pressure, you may start to feel overwhelmed or out of control. Stress can also cause physical side effects.

See our pages on stress for tips on dealing with pressure and coping with stressful events.

Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to the present moment, using techniques like meditation, breathing exercises and yoga.

It's been shown to help people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings. This means that instead of being overwhelmed by your feelings, it becomes easier to manage them.

See our pages on mindfulness for more information, including some exercises you could try.

If you find that being on your phone or computer a lot is making you feel more busy and stressed, try to take a break. This could be for just an hour or two.

If you find this difficult, try putting your phone in another room or setting an alarm to time yourself.

Doing something creative can help distract you from difficult thoughts or feelings, or help you to process them. It can also be rewarding.

You could try doing something like drawing, playing a musical instrument or baking. Try not to worry about the finished product. Just focus on enjoying yourself.

Our Arts and Minds service could be just for you.

Learning a new skill in a group can be enjoyable, and help boost your confidence. 

To find out what's in your local area ask at your local library or community centre.

Online learning is a good option if it's difficult to get out and about or you're short on time.

See the FutureLearn and OpenLearn websites to find free online courses.

Spending time in nature outdoors can help improve your mood and reduce feelings of stress and anger.

Our Rooted in Nature project can help you understand more about the benefits and lots of ideas you could try.

This can give you the benefits of nature without having to go to a park or public garden. You could buy flowers, potted plants or seeds for growing on your windowsill.

Or you could collect natural materials from outdoors, such as leaves, flowers, feathers, and use them to decorate your living space.

Lots of people find that being with animals is calming and enjoyable.

You could try pet-sitting or dog walking, feed birds from your window, or visit a local community farm.

Pay attention to your surroundings and find things to see, hear, taste, smell and touch.

Connecting with others can help us have a greater sense of belonging and reduce feelings of loneliness.

Opening up to a trusted friend or family member can help you feel listened to and supported.

Sometimes, just acknowledging your feelings by saying them out loud can also help.

If you're finding things hard, talking to people who have similar feelings or experiences can help.

Find out more about how our peer support groups can help you.

Using your time to help others can give you a sense of purpose, help you meet people and boost your self-esteem.

We have over 60 volunteers working with us and we also signpost people to other partner organisations. Our Community Minded service can help you or find out more about volunteering for us.

Drinking enough water is important for your mental and physical health. 

The NHS has more information about water, drinks and your health.

There is lots of advice out there about there about how eating or avoiding certain foods can affect your mental health. We know that eating regular meals and a healthy, balanced diet can help your mood and energy levels.

Our food and mood pages can help you learn more and the NHS has helpful information on how to maintain a balanced diet.

Basic self-care, like brushing your teeth or having a shower, is important for your physical health and can help you feel better.

If you're struggling, try to set yourself small goals, like getting up and washing your face.

You might feel like using drugs or alcohol to cope with any difficult feelings, but in the long run they can make you feel worse.

Try to build physical activity into your daily routine, if possible. It doesn't have to be anything big, like running a marathon. If you aren't used to being active, start off small and try to find something you enjoy.

Our pages on physical activity and mental health have ideas for most ages and abilities, including things you can do at home.

Try and establish a routine around bed time to help set a regular sleeping pattern.

Give yourself some tech-free time before sleep and avoid bright screens that can affect your sleep.

Do a relaxing activity, like having a bath, or try to meditate before you go to sleep.

It may also help to avoid having caffeine before your bed time, as this can keep you awake.

A comfortable sleeping environment can help improve your sleep and small changes can make a big difference. For example, you might sleep better with a low light on, or with different bedding.

If you're staying in hospital, having your own items can help make things feel more comfortable and personal. For example, you could ask to use your own pillow or blanket.

If you're living in a hostel or supported accommodation, the Groundswell website has some ideas for improving your sleep.