5 ways to well-being

Returning to the theme of wellbeing (see Seeking well-being rather than salvation), I have been very struck by a paper by the 'New Economics Forum' (NEF) who reviewed the evidence for what activities enhance wellbeing and also reduces the risk of mental health problems. The NEF is an independent think tank whose tag line is 'economics as if people and the planet mattered'.

As a counsellor I am impressed with the findings they present in this paper. Here is the simple summary, in the report's own words:

Five ways to well-being*

A review of the most up-to-date evidence suggests that building the following five actions into our day-to-day lives is important for well-being:

Connect...
With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

Be active...
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

Take notice...
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

Keep learning...
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

Give...
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.


But I am most struck as a Christian with how closely these mesh with values at the heart of the Christian gospel. Jesus told us 2000 years ago that:

• relationships matter greatly - with our Father in heaven, with our families, our neighbours and community; we are even to love our enemies
• our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to take care of them
• we should notice with awe, praise and thanks the remarkable works of our amazing Creator
• there is always more to know of God our Father, and that we are to strive to become mature, the people that God intended and more clearly reflecting the image of Christ
• and that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Still, I suppose it's not a surprise that God knows what is good for us.


* The full Report is available from the New Economics Forum website.