Give yourself a high five.
Five simple ways to keep your brain in better balance.
Everyone knows how important it is to look after yourself physically, but what about mentally too? It’s easier than you think. Just give yourself five.
What is it?
Decades of mental health research from medical professionals point to five simple things we can do to keep us mentally healthy.
Who is it for?
People looking to find a better balance.
Anyone looking for ways to make themselves feel good.
How does it work?
Connect
People love people. We’re social creatures. And we nearly always feel better after a great chat, a good laugh or a nice stroll with someone.
Making time to connect with other people gives us a sense of belonging and reminds us that everyone has stuff they’re wrangling too. Plus, it’s usually fun.
Move
Being active is good for your body. Sure. But it can also improve the way we feel. It’s not about running a marathon - just going for a walk can help you feel awesome.
That’s because physical activity causes chemical changes in your brain which help to positively change your mood. So get off the bus a stop early and enjoy the walk.
Explore
How often do you stop to smell the roses? Or the colour of the sky or the smell of the grass? Explore the wow of now to appreciate small stuff and put the bigger things on pause.
‘Mindfulness’ might sound fluffy. But it’s just about shutting out noise to focus on something in the here and now. It helps bring perspective and calms a busy mind.
Give
We all get a buzz when we give to others. Acts of generosity and kindness are a simple way to create positive feelings and a sense of reward.
It’s not about money, or physical gifts. Giving quality time, helpful support or genuine appreciation can give you a buzz and make someone else feel good too.
Grow
Whenever we conquer new skills, we feel good about ourselves. It’s because our brains are programmed to reward us for evolving. So what are you learning?
The challenge and success of learning anything makes us feel good. It’s not about going back to school, or picking up the violin. Go conquer the coffee maker.
Give yourself a high five
The great thing about these five things is none of them are hard. In fact, most of us do many of them on the regular. So if you’re feeling a bit flat, just hit pause on the thing that’s getting you down and find a way to Connect, Move, Explore, Give or Grow.
Chances are, a little more of one or the other and you’ll be back in balance before you know it.
Note: The High Five is based on Mental Health and Wellbeing tips published by the NHS in the UK and the Mental Health Foundation in NZ.
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