Wellbeing

Wellness

Wellness is about becoming aware of and making choices that bring about a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness it is a process of change and growth. Have a look at some of the useful tips on ways to increase your wellness which include practicing mindfulness, getting better sleep, investing in self-care and lots more.

How can I be more mindful?

Mindfulness is about being in the moment without judgement. This involves clearing your mind of distractions and paying full attention to what is going on in you and outside you. When you are doing this, you will notice that your mind is likely to wander so being mindful takes practice. When you feel your mind wandering and you start thinking about putting the washing on, what to cook for dinner and if you paid that bill, you need to purposefully bring your thoughts back to the moment. This is practicing mindfulness.

Mindfulness has many benefits which can have a positive impact on all areas of your life and overall wellbeing.

Practicing mindfulness can help:

  • reduce worries, anxiety and distress
  • improve wellbeing
  • improve communication and relationships
  • boosts learning and productivity
  • create a sense of calm
  • improve health and sleep.

For tips on how to start practicing mindfulness visit
www.healthdirect.gov.au/benefits-of-mindfulness

How can I sleep better?

Having a good night sleep is important for overall wellbeing benefiting your mental and physical health. Sleep can help you overcome illness and injury giving your body a change to heal. Lack of sleep can lead to trouble concentrating, irritability, mood swings and depression.

For more information visit
www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au

How can I improve my mental health?

There are lots of different things you can do to help improve your overall wellbeing. Investing in yourself is a good start to feeling better about all aspects of your life.

Trying new ways to increase your happiness, making self-care a priority and removing negative aspects from your life can all improve your sense of wellbeing.

For regular mental health information and tips like us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/wmhhs

Self-care wheel

 

How will socialising make me happier?

Enjoying the company of other people is an important part of our daily lives. Social connection improves our physical health and emotional wellbeing.  Friendships help increase our feelings of belonging, purpose and happiness and can often help reduce feelings of stress, loneliness and anxiety.

Talking about a problem with a trusted friend or family member can help us feel less troubled and overwhelmed. The benefits of talking to someone face to face is often more rewarding than online connections. Being able to see a person’s body language and their emotion is a one way to feel connected. Talking to someone in person is also a great way to share news why not try a ‘no devices when dining with others’ agreement so everyone is present and focused on the moment rather than checking their devices. This will help develop strong relationships with each other as well as feelings of being connected. 

For more information visit 
www.headtohealth.gov.au/meaningful-life/connectedness

How can I laugh more?

There are many physical and emotional benefits to having a good laugh. Some of the benefits of laughter include:

  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Reduces stress
  • Improves brain function
  • Works your abs
  • Improves heart health
  • Releases endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers

There are Laughing Clubs to help you get started, visit
www.laughterclubsqld.com.au

For more information about other common screening and health checks visit www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/screening