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This week we’re providing tips on how even small changes to your lifestyle can make positive differences to your wellbeing - both physically and mentally.
Hopefully you're feeling refreshed after the Christmas break and ready to get your teeth into this new year. So let’s start the new year as you mean to go on – being positive, staying healthy, and making the most of your last few months of sixth form or college.
The new year is when many people make resolutions, often to start going to the gym, eat more healthily or give something back by volunteering at a local charity or organisation. The Mental Health Foundation has some great tips on setting realistic and positive resolutions.
Why not start the year as you mean to go on? Even if you haven't made it a new year's resolution, now is a good time to get fit and healthy in body and mind. It may just benefit you when you start preparing for things like exams and going to uni later this year.
Solent's sport and fitness course teams have put together some great, simple tips for us to share with you on how you can achieve this:
Even small increases in physical activity have been shown to improve both physical and mental wellbeing.
The important thing to remember is that being active doesn't always mean working out, jogging or playing a sport. Building in regular physical activity throughout your day can make a big difference too:
Team sport is a great way to get fit and get to know new people. Have a look at and try out for a team at school or college. Or why not start your own team? It doesn’t have to be a traditional sport like football or netball – it could be something a little different, like a Quidditch club.
Also, why not check out what teams and sport societies your chosen uni has to offer (ours are here) that way you can be ready to sign up during freshers' week.
If you’re a smoker, there’s loads of support out there to help you quit, and you’re four times more likely to quit with NHS support than if you go it alone. Sign up for 28 days of free quitting advice and tips straight to your inbox to increase your chance of success.
Better Health is a fantastic online resource that gives you personalised recommendations, tips and support to help you achieve your health goals. With support in healthy eating, reducing alcohol intake, increasing physical activity, smoking, sleep and stress, there's something to help everyone.
As well as taking care of our body, it’s really important that we make an effort to look after our mental health too. Your school or college will likely have support services that can help you with a range of issues including academic, career, spiritual, or disability. They may also offer counselling and lots more. These services are there for you, so make sure you make the most of them.
If you want to improve your own mental health and become happier, more resilient and less stressed, the practice of mindfulness can be a powerful tool to help. There are apps such as Headspace, which can help you learn how to do this.
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