What is mental wellness?

The Global Wellness Institute defines mental wellness as “an internal resource that helps us think, feel, connect, and function; it is an active process that helps us to build resilience, grow, and flourish.” University Health says some activities that may improve your mental wellness include:

• Physical activities (hiking, swimming, biking, exercising, etc.)
• Artistic activities (singing, drawing, painting, dancing, etc.)
• Volunteering
• Enjoying time with friends and family Eating healthy food
• Completing personal goals

What are some mental wellness activities that can benefit your mental health? National Health Service (NHS) suggests five mental wellness activities that may benefit your mental health:

Connect with other people. Good relationships are important for your mental well-being. They can:

• allow you to share positive experiences
• help you build a sense of belonging and self-worth
• provide emotional support and will enable you to support others

Get moving. Being active is also great for your physical and mental health.  Evidence also shows it can improve your mental well-being by:

• causing chemical changes in your brain
• helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
• raising your self-esteem

Learn new skills. Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental well-being by:

• boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem
• helping you build a sense of purpose
• helping you connect with others

Even if you feel short on time or disinterested in learning new things, there are many ways to bring learning into your life.

Be kind. Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental well-being by:

• creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
• giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
• helping you connect with other people

It could be small acts of kindness towards others or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.

Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness). Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental well-being. This includes being aware of your thoughts, feelings, body, and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness.” Mindfulness can help you:

• Better enjoy life
• Positively change how you feel about life and approach challenges
• Understand yourself more completely

If you are experiencing loneliness, call our Senior Life Solutions Department and learn how they can help.   785-364-9610.