The Five Ways to Wellbeing are simple, proven actions we can regularly take to help us find balance and feel our best – they are Connect, Give, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Be Active. Have a think about the Five Ways and how you incorporate them into your day to day. Are there any new wellbeing habits that you’d like to make?
How to boost your mental wellbeing in spring
It’s the perfect time to reflect on and refresh our mental wellbeing habits – here are our top tips for ‘spring cleaning’ your wellbeing.
With flowers in bloom, the days getting longer and summer in sight, we might notice a positive impact on our mental wellbeing. Biologically, our serotonin tends to rise at the start of spring, and our body clocks begin to adjust for the longer days – almost like awakening from hibernation.
The Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar) refers to Kōanga (spring) as a time of rebirth, when the whenua (land) is prepared and crops are planted for harvest later. Spring brings fruitful days. It’s the perfect time to reflect on and refresh our mental wellbeing habits – here are our top tips for ‘spring cleaning’ your wellbeing.
We know that spring, or the change of seasons generally, can also bring challenges for those of us who are experiencing low mental health. The change of routine can be unsettling, or we may feel more agitated as spring brings an increase in energy. If this is the case for you, please share how you’re feeling with someone you trust, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
Our top tips for ‘spring cleaning’ your wellbeing
Now is a great time to get outside; visit your local park or botanic garden to see the flowers in bloom, go for a bush walk and breathe in the fresh air, or simply take a short stroll around your neighbourhood on a blue-sky day. See this as an opportunity to ‘take notice’ of your surroundings and practice mindfulness. The change of seasons also means different fruits and vegetables are now in season – try making a meal based around spring vegetables. The stuff that’s in season also tends to be cheaper!
We often feel a sense of renewed energy in spring, as our serotonin levels rise and we get a boost of vitamin D from the extra sunshine. If you set some goals in January or during Matariki, this could be a good time to renew them. Do they still feel like priorities? Could you take a small step towards one goal? Or have you got a new one in mind?
During our winter ‘hibernation’ we might find we’ve spent less time with friends and whānau. As we gain a bit more energy in early spring, it could be helpful to start reaching out to people we haven’t seen in a while. You could combine this with a new wellbeing habit you want to build – maybe you’d like to get more active? Invite a friend to join you for a walk, or a chilly swim in the moana (sea).
During winter, it’s common for us to sleep for longer or go to bed earlier. As it gets lighter, we might feel like staying awake for later in the evening. Make sure you still prioritise getting a healthy amount of sleep each night; this might differ from person to person, but will typically be around 8-9 hours per night.
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