Ask 'how are you'?
Really listen to someone's response when you ask "how are you?". You may make a huge difference in their day.
Really listen to someone's response when you ask "how are you?". You may make a huge difference in their day.
Activities for a stronger mental wellbeing
Strong mental wellbeing gives you resilience in the face of life’s challenges and is something we can all benefit from. Fortunately, you can improve your mental wellbeing by making small changes to your daily routine.
Build your personal mental wellbeing activity deck
Below, you’ll find a collection of daily activities you can do to improve your mental wellbeing, listed on cards. You can use these activity cards as a tool to help you improve your mental wellbeing:
- Select the activity cards you’d like to try and create a personal deck of mental wellbeing activities.
- Practise 2-3 of your chosen activities each day.
- Check in with how you are feeling in one month.
-
-
Send a handwritten letter
You might send a letter to say thank you, to celebrate a birthday, to accept an invitation, or even with a holiday card.
You might send a letter to say thank you, to celebrate a birthday, to accept an invitation, or even with a holiday card.
-
Practice mindful eating
Pay careful attention to the look, the smell, the taste and the texture of your food. Eat slowly. Savour it.
Pay careful attention to the look, the smell, the taste and the texture of your food. Eat slowly. Savour it.
-
Go screen-free before bed
Try switching off all screens at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Reducing your exposure to the bright artificial light makes it easier to fall asleep.
Try switching off all screens at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Reducing your exposure to the bright artificial light makes it easier to fall asleep.
-
Try deep breathing
It's amazing how quickly you regain a sense of peace and calm through deep breathing exercises. The Xhalr website has a visual breathing tool to help you.
It's amazing how quickly you regain a sense of peace and calm through deep breathing exercises. The Xhalr website has a visual breathing tool to help you.
-
Start a gratitude jar
Write down something you're grateful for each day and place it in an empty jar or container to reflect on at a later time. Get your whole family or workplace involved. When it's full, take turns to read aloud the things everyone is grateful for.
Write down something you're grateful for each day and place it in an empty jar or container to reflect on at a later time. Get your whole family or workplace involved. When it's full, take turns to read aloud the things everyone is grateful for.
-
Schedule a regular video chat catch-up
Build a regular catch-up with friends into your routine - weekly, monthly or more. Setting a regular date is great way to see more of your friends.
Build a regular catch-up with friends into your routine - weekly, monthly or more. Setting a regular date is great way to see more of your friends.
-
Read something different
Try reading a book from a genre you don't usually choose. Have a look at your community library, or borrow an ebook online from State Library of Queensland.
Try reading a book from a genre you don't usually choose. Have a look at your community library, or borrow an ebook online from State Library of Queensland.
-
Give yoga a go
Yoga focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost your physical and mental wellbeing. Find a free online video and try it for yourself.
Yoga focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost your physical and mental wellbeing. Find a free online video and try it for yourself.
-
Play a board game
Switch off the TV after dinner and play board games with your family or house mates.
Switch off the TV after dinner and play board games with your family or house mates.
-
Just dance
Put on some music and bust a move. It will get both your heart and the bassline pumping. Dancing combines all the benefits of listening to music and exercising. It is an enjoyable way to be more physically active and is suitable for people of all fitness levels.
Put on some music and bust a move. It will get both your heart and the bassline pumping. Dancing combines all the benefits of listening to music and exercising. It is an enjoyable way to be more physically active and is suitable for people of all fitness levels.
-
Try Sunday meal prepping
Take time to pre-prepare your meals for the week. You could save time and money, plus you'll set yourself up for a week of healthy eating.
Take time to pre-prepare your meals for the week. You could save time and money, plus you'll set yourself up for a week of healthy eating.
Need more support?
Practising your mental wellbeing activities regularly can help build your resilience so you bounce back faster when you’re feeling sad or down. But sometimes, you might need some professional help to feel better again. There are a range of services and organisations available to support you.
Sign up for regular wellbeing tips