Together we stay stronger Even though we are all currently at home all day, we can still boost our physical wellbeing in many ways – and this doesn’t just mean staying active, exercising and getting outdoors. Eating healthily and getting a good night’s sleep also contribute to achieving positive physical and overall mental wellbeing.
Keeping active It is important that you keep up with some physical activity. Whether you are working from home, home schooling or finding things to keep you occupied, make sure you take time out to do some form of daily exercise. Click here to try the NHS fitness studio, which has a variety of fitness videos from aerobic exercise to yoga and pilates. Joe Wicks ‘The Body Coach’ is still offering free PE classes every day at 9am for you to join in with your children. He also offers a wide variety of challenges and exercise videos from low impact beginners to intense workouts for the more active of you. Our partner, Vitality Health, are also offering some free workouts on their YouTube channel. Make use of your daily exercise out of the house too, whether you run, walk or cycle. There are lots of apps available. The British Heart Foundation has a good choice of free apps for all different levels of runners and for those who want to start running why not try the NHS couch to 5k.
Diet, nutrition & staying hydrated Most people think that what you eat and drink only has an impact on your physical health however there are strong links between what we eat and how we feel, for example caffeine and sugar has an immediate effect. Eating a balanced diet has long lasting effects on your mental health and keeps your brain functioning well. For further information and guidance on eating and drinking healthily click here and to view the wellbeing & nutrition podcast by the Mental Health Foundation click here.
Sleep
Sleep
Sleep is as important to our health as eating, drinking and exercising. It allows our bodies to repair themselves and our brains to consolidate our memories and process information. Poor sleep is linked to physical problems such as a weakened immune system and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Click here to view/download the Mental Health Foundation free guide on 'How to sleep better'.
eLearning & webinars We have a range of fivevminute eLearning modules available to complete via MyLearning which support positive physical Health & Wellbeing through providing helpful hints, tips and challenges including: ‘'Healthy eating at work’
‘Be Active’
‘The dangers of sitting’
In addition we also offer the ‘60 Second Skills’ which are short, sharp sessions ideal for use on the mobile app. Try out 60 second sessions on ‘Relaxation Techniques’, the ‘Importance of sleep’ and ‘Switching off from work’. We have access to a ‘Positive psychology - the key to our challenging times’ webinar on Tuesday 5 May, 10:00-11:00. In this challenging period we are living in, the session will provide advice and guidance on thinking positively. With a focus on healthier relationships, utilising your strengths, developing a resilience toolkit, and looking after your physical health.
The session is now open to register your attendance - click here to register. Exercising is a great way to help you concentrate, it can also help you sleep, look and feel better