This guide offers ideas about how to look after your mental health and wellbeing
You can download a full copy of the guide to read online HERE (PDF) or click on the sections below.
You can also download the Ways to Be Well Planner (Editable PDF) to help you think about where you might like to make a small change to your wellbeing habits.
Everyone has mental health. There are lots of things that we can do to look after our mental health and wellbeing, all of which are backed up by research. If you can include these tips in your life then they could help you to feel better and more able to cope with life.
You can use these 'ways to be well' to find out more about what will protect your mental health. These are things that will help you to stay well, and also help you to recover if you’ve been unwell. You can also use this self-help information to support the people around you to be healthier and happier.
To be well, we need to look after both our minds and our bodies.
› Eat Well – food affects our brains and mood as well as our bodies
› Connect with Nature – spend time outdoors and bring nature into your everyday life
› Be Active – exercising regularly can make you feel more confident, happier, less stressed and sleep better
› Sleep Well – follow a good night time routine, sleeping well is vital for good mental health
› Be Creative – creative activities and being involved in culture can help you to stay well and feel better
› Enjoy and Learn – learning new things can help you to be more satisfied and fulfilled
› Be Mindful – being mindful can help you to de-stress. Give yourself some ‘me time’
› Be Kind – giving and receiving from others helps to build a support network
› Be Connected – connect with other people in a way that is good for your wellbeing
› Limit Alcohol – cut down your drinking to within the low risk guidelines
› Stop Smoking – find healthier ways to cope with stress
› Manage Money Worries – get help for financial difficulties, money problems are a common trigger for mental health problems
You can also use ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) to find services, groups and activities for health and wellbeing www.aliss.org
Illustrations designed by Morton Ward Edinburgh