Connect
Connect with others to feel supported and valued.
Make time in your day or your week to connect with others, stay in touch, and to give and receive emotional support. Sharing conversation and experiences can boost your mood. It can help us feel part of a bigger picture in which we all play a valuable part. Being in touch with people who are optimistic can also change your perspective for the better, leaving you feeling positive.
How much time do you have to connect?
Click on a time frame below:
Got 5 minutes?
- Text a friend – people appreciate it when you think of them
- Arrange to meet up with a friend or colleague
- Say hi to a neighbour
Got 30 minutes?
- Meet friends or family for a walk in the great outdoors
- Arrange a coffee with a colleague to check in on their week
If you're feeling lonely at the moment, explore tips that can help. Different things work for different people, so try to find what works for you, and seek further support if you feel you need it
CloseGot 1 hour?
- Switch off the TV and share the events of your day: the best thing that happened, the funniest thing and anything you did not enjoy
- Have a screen-free day and dig out the family board games
- Revive friendships that have fallen by the wayside
- Look for local clubs and interest groups in your area
- Look for local clubs and interest groups in your area or join a Chat About group at your local library
Want to make a regular commitment?
- Help out or volunteer at a community group, event, local school or organisation
- Help others who need company or support, such as vulnerable neighbours, especially those who live alone. Why not join a befriending scheme?
- Keep communicating and know when to ask for help if you are having difficult thoughts and feelings
Be active
Move your body to feel good, both physically and mentally.
Any activity that gets you moving or enjoying the great outdoors is good for wellbeing including walking, gardening, having a kickabout in the park or simply taking the stairs.
There are mood-boosting benefits to being active as well as health gains. Read more about how to look after your mental health using exercise
To make an activity work for you, make sure it’s one you enjoy and break it down into manageable steps, building up over a few weeks or months. Finding an exercise buddy can also be motivating so consider sharing an activity with a friend.
How much time do you have to be active?
Click on a time frame below:
Got 5 minutes?
- Download Active 10, an app that helps you to get started and achieve a manageable goal
- Discover Better Health which offers a range of ideas to get you moving more
- Search Walking for Health to find your local walking group or enjoy time outdoors in one of the county’s beautiful country parks
- Get off the bus one stop early to get in some extra steps.
Close
Got 30 minutes?
- Visit Get Fit for Free for tips to get you started
- Take a look at Energise Me for tips on how to get active
- Check out We Are Undefeatable which supports people with long-term health conditions to be active in ways which work for you
- Get pedalling - why not cycle to the shops instead?
Got 1 hour?
- Change 4 Life is a family and kids-based activity programme to get the whole family moving
- Discover activities at your local leisure centre, gym or sports club
- Get in training at your local Park Run – it’s free every Saturday and covers a 5k course
- Give back to the environment and join a local conservation group. You’ll be active outside and meet new people too
Want to make a regular commitment?
- Couch to 5K is an app that helps you to get started and achieve a manageable goal
- Explore the great outdoors and get active in the beautiful Hampshire countryside
- Men interested in improving fitness through a regular game of football can register their interest in ManvFat Football in Hampshire
- Keep doing the things you love in later life by doing strength and balance exercises at Steady and Strong classes.
Keep learning
Keep learning to gain self-confidence and a sense of purpose.
Learning adds to your skills and keeps your brain active, increasing your self-confidence and inspiring others.
People who continue to learn after leaving formal education report a greater sense of wellbeing, purpose and self-esteem, and, of course, it brings people who share the same interests together.
Learning can take many forms from simple tasks to ambitious projects, but they can all be rewarding.
How much time do you have to keep learning?
Click on a time frame below:
Got 5 minutes?
- Look up a new recipe or watch a YouTube video to learn how to do something new
- Check out Open Learn which offers free online learning courses on a variety of topics
Got 30 minutes?
- Catch up on a documentary on a subject that interests you
- Reserve some books from the library to help get a hobby off the ground or make the most of
- Brush up your digital and numeracy skills for free with The Skills Toolkit
Got 1 hour?
- Get started on a new hobby or commit to something you have always wanted to do
- Listen to a podcast or a TED talk – there are over 3,400 talks to stir your curiosity and there’s bound to be one on a topic that interests you
- Explore Hampshire Cultural Trust’s museums, workshops and events
- Explore new career opportunities - CXK offers free, professional careers information, advice and guidance to help you move forward with your career
Want to make a regular commitment?
- Sign up for an online course and set yourself a learning goal - many adult and community classes are now up and running
- Learn a new language or dust off an old one with a free online course - learning with an online programme such as Duolingo is fun and addictive, with effective bite-sized lessons
Give
Helping others can create positive feelings and boost wellbeing.
Helping others, whether through small acts of kindness or a regular commitment to volunteering, is proven to be good for mental wellbeing. If you have some time on your hands, there are many organisations that depend on volunteers - a regular slot will help you to build your social networks.
This Kindness Matters guide produced by the Mental Health Foundation also includes suggestions that may inspire you.
Got 5 minutes?
- Check on an elderly neighbour to offer your time or support
- Buy an extra item with your shopping if you can afford to and donate to your local foodbank
- Pay someone a compliment and make their day
Got 1 hour?
- Set up or help out with a community group or activity
- Do some shopping for someone who may need support
- Help plant a woodland or hedgerow with the Hampshire Forest Partnership and give the gift of nature to the next generation.
Want to make a regular commitment?
- Volunteer to help local wildlife, whilst being active outdoors and protecting your local area
- There are many other local volunteering opportunities – find one that works for you
- Lend your support to a cause that matters to you
Take notice
Being in the present moment can positively change the way you feel about life
Mindfulness is a technique that has been proven to help manage stress and promote wellbeing. Being mindful means staying in the present moment, being aware of your body and the physical world around you. This helps you in turn to let go of worries about what has passed or what may happen in the future. It can be a useful tool in developing a positive mindset and dealing with difficult thoughts and feelings.
How much time do you have to be mindful?
Click on a time frame below:
Got 5 minutes?
- Pay more attention to the present moment, your own thoughts and feelings
- Take the first step to find out about mindfulness
- Watch this short video on mindful breathing
- These mental health and wellbeing NHS approved apps and audio guides can help boost your mood. Other mindfulness apps such as Headspace, CALM or Insight Timer are available.
Got 30 minutes?
- Find a book or podcast to guide you through mindfulness practices
- Check out Better Health for expert advice and practical tips on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing including how to deal with stress, manage anxiety and lift your mood.
- Get outside and notice the birds! Research shows birdwatching connects us with nature and lowers anxiety.
Got 1 hour?
- Research more about mindfulness and how it could help your mental wellbeing
- Find a book for your child in the Mental Health and Wellbeing reading list from Hampshire Libraries’ When a Book Might Help reading list
- Reading Well booklists can help you find titles to read that help you understand and manage your wellbeing
- Why not try forest bathing? Mindfulness in nature can calm the mind, helping us to become more present.
Want to make a regular commitment?
- Find an online community, a group at work or a mindfulness buddy to help motivate you to bring this technique into your life
- Start or finish your day with ten minutes of mindfulness to help you focus on the present and manage difficult thoughts
- Consider incorporating yoga or tai-chi into your week to help with mindfulness breathing or try gentle walking to calm a busy mind
- Whether you're concerned about yourself or a loved one, go to Mental Wellbeing Hampshire to find local advice and support
There are other steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. Mental Wellbeing Hampshire provides information and resources for a range of issues and experiences. It includes advice on looking after yourself, help for children and families, support for money worries and crisis prevention.
Back to Basics empowers parents and carers to support their child’s emotional wellbeing using the framework of the Five Ways to Wellbeing. If you're a parent or carer find out more.
Disclaimer: please note that information, websites, resources and apps are suggestions only and are not endorsed by Hampshire County Council.
Connect
Interacting with others helps us to feel connected, supported and part of a bigger picture in which we all play a valuable part.
Connecting with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and people around us is an important part of mental wellbeing. The quality of these relationships has an effect on our self-esteem and gives us a sense of purpose.
Make time in your day or your week to connect with others, stay in touch, give and receive emotional support and share conversations and experiences. Being around friends or colleagues who are optimistic and strong can also change your perspective for the better, leaving you feeling positive.
Loneliness can have a serious effect on wellbeing for all ages, particularly older people, but advice is available to help you find ways to overcome it.
Look out too for volunteering opportunities which can bring you into contact with community groups, charities and social enterprises who will appreciate your help.
Here are a few ways in which you can connect with others and build stronger relationships:
- Phone rather than just texting or emailing – the quality of the conversation will be more satisfying
- Choose direct contact over social media
- Plan ahead to meet friends and family and make a date to look forward to
- Switch off the TV and have good conversations instead
- Help out or volunteer at a community group, event, local school or organisation
- Support others who need help or company
- Revive friendships that have fallen by the wayside
- Keep communicating and know when to ask for help
Be active
Any activity that gets you moving or enjoying the great outdoors is good for wellbeing including walking, gardening, having a kickabout in the park or taking the stairs. There are mood-boosting benefits to being active as well as health gains.
In order to make an activity work for you, make sure it’s one you enjoy and break it down into manageable steps, building up over a few weeks or months. Finding an exercise buddy can also be motivating so consider sharing your activity or fitness journey with a friend.
Here are some resources to support you in taking the first steps:
- Couch to 5K is an app that helps you to get started and achieve a manageable goal
- Sign up to your local Park Run – here you’ll find people of all ages and fitness levels
- The Energise Me website has all sort of tips on how to get active
- Download Active 10, an app to help you to build activity into your day
- Change 4 Life is a family and kids based activity programme to get the whole family moving
- Search Walking for Health to find your local walking group
- Visit Get Fit for Free for tips to get you started
- Explore the great outdoors and get active in the beautiful Hampshire countryside
Keep learning
Learning adds to your skills and keeps your brain active, increasing your self-confidence and inspiring others.
People who continue to learn after leaving formal education report a greater sense of wellbeing, purpose and self-esteem, and, of course, it brings people who share the same interests together.
Learning can take many forms from simple tasks to ambitious projects, but they can all be rewarding. Set yourself a goal. For some it might be tackling a new recipe or undertaking some training at work, for others it could be watching a documentary or rediscovering a hobby.
There are plenty of formal courses too through adult and community learning.
Your local library is full of useful resources and also runs events and classes where you can learn new skills.
Give to others
Helping others, whether through small acts of kindness or a regular commitment to volunteering, is proven to be good for mental wellbeing.
If you have some time on your hands, there are many organisations that depend on volunteers and a regular slot will help you to build your social networks.
Be mindful
Mindfulness is a technique that has been proven to help manage stress and promote wellbeing. Being mindful means staying in the present moment, being aware of your body and the physical world around you. This helps you in turn to let go of worries about what has passed or what may happen in the future. It can be a useful tool in developing a positive mindset and dealing with difficult thoughts and feelings. There are many books and audio resources for developing mindfulness which you can find at your local library.