#MadeAtReading: Wellbeing starts with us
Monday, 08 July 2019
Wellbeing is one of the key projects of the People Plan Programme. Members of the People Plan Board have been working alongside Human Resources to shape several initiatives that aim to improve colleagues’ wellbeing. These projects have been informed by feedback from our 2017 and 2018 Staff Surveys and subsequent focus groups. This includes specific projects like the Wellbeing Peer Support network as well as more general ways we can improve our wellbeing.
All this week we will be exploring the key themes in mental wellbeing, and how colleagues might apply them here on campus.
We would also like you to join in on Wednesday 10 July by sharing your photos and reflections on wellbeing with the University’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. Use the hashtags #WellbeingWednesday and #MadeAtReading.
Evidence suggests there are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you give them a try you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life. The five steps are:
Give to others
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 people around you.
Take notice/be mindful
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.
Keep learning
Swap your inactive pursuits with active ones. Go for a walk. Step outside. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Walk or cycle when making short journeys. Being active makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Be active
Try something new or 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.
Connect
Connect with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work 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.