We hear and read a lot about how to improve our general health and wellbeing but mostly I find it's around diets and moderate or intensive activities. Whereas these may be important elements of any health and wellbeing programme, frustration may set in if you've reached a plateau in your weight loss schedule or if you simply find life has fewer surprises for you.
Why not consider a different approach? In this article I focus on connecting with others to help improve general health and wellbeing. You only need to take one small step to see how you might benefit from connecting with others.
Connecting with others through learning. Enrolling on a learning course is traditional but it's still a wonderful opportunity to engage and wallow with others in a topic you love such as fashion, criminology or garden design. You may need to organise yourself and arrange transport, but it might also help you build confidence through chatting and engaging with others. Or you might like the idea of a learning holiday, to be whisked away on a cookery adventure in Tuscany, a wine making experience in the Loire valley or mastering photography in Spain.
Connecting with others through hobbies. Joining a hobby group or society, if you haven't done this for some time, may take a bit of courage but the benefits are worth it. Most groups allow prospective members to test the water for free first, so get your diary out and start planning. Local community centres, church or village halls are having a bit of a renaissance and are welcoming new groups. If you can't find a group near you, why not think about setting up your own? Most national hobby societies provide the help to do this. From sporty to crafty, traditional to trendy, there's a hobby out there for you. And if you like the idea of getting out and about on day trips, then check out your local freebie magazine for walking groups, theatre groups or 'friends of' groups.
Connecting with others through volunteering. First think carefully about how much time you can give to volunteering. It doesn't matter how many times a week or month or year you volunteer, just so long as you stick to it. Reliability is the key! If you are the outdoorsy type, then you might like to consider local landmarks such as canals and waterways, troughs and peaks, parks and woodlands and check out their volunteering opportunities. If you are the indoors type, you might like to consider advocacy, design or mystery shopper. It may help to carry out a bit of research first, so you become familiar with what's happening in your area. Why not check out national websites that co-ordinate volunteering activities or pop round to your local charity shop or organisation?
So whether it's through learning, hobbies or volunteering, connecting with others could help you improve your general health and wellbeing. You just need to take one small step!
Jo Noblett
Visit my website at the link above for more ideas and resources. If you are concerned about taking on a new activity, check it out with your GP first.
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