7 Ways to Increase Your Well-being

The New Year, New Me resolutions are in full swing and people are doing everything from eating salads to trying to read more books. As tempting as it might be to assume that three meals of rocket and tomato will solve all of your mental health woes in 2025, we all know that by the end of the week you will be turning green at the thought of another bland mouthful. So, we have gathered this list of psychology-backed tips on increasing your well-being.

1. Find time to get outside

I can practically feel you rolling your eyes at me. I know, I know I said there wouldn't be any more green stuff! But even if you are sitting in your garden (wrapped up warm!) with a cup of tea, time outside connecting with the earth beneath your feet is important for your mental health. When we look at other cultures, Indigenous people across the globe base their levels of well-being and happiness on how connected they feel to the earth beneath them and the community around them. It is something most of us neglect in our own busy, western lives and just sitting for 20 to 30 minutes a day in fresh air is proven to help.

2. Find the 'Flow'

The 'flow' meaning a flow of concentration on work or creative tasks that has you losing track of time. For me, I find the flow best when I am reading, I can be consumed by interesting stories about people, places and events in fictional realities and often resurface hours later. For you, it might be through art, music or work. Finding the flow gives your brain time to focus on one activity completely. You aren't stressed or worried about the world outside of the task you are completing. The task has to be challenging enough to consume your mind but you don't want something too challenging and ultimately frustrating.

3. Find your Community and Engage with them

I am disabled and often struggle to leave the house so this is particularly challenging for me. The way I engage with my "community" or support network, is through facetime and video calls. Multiple times each week I facetime my best friend and her baby and we sit and chat about life in general. We are social creatures and connection is important.

4. Reduce substances and alcohol

Alcohol and drugs may make you feel good in the moment but do nothing for long term wellbeing. Tomorrow you will be coming down, hungover and feeling absolutely awful. Try to reduce anything you don't need.

5. Skip the diet

We get it, you are feeling a bit disgusting after the festive season. Instead of concentrating on dieting and restricting foods, concentrate on nourishing your body with foods that are good for you. Introduce more vegetables, take your vitamins and drink enough water. Eating more of what is good and trading processed foods where possible will make you feel better than vowing to remove all fat or sugar.

6. Think about the future

Wellbeing isn't just about right now. In fact, it links closely to the idea of living a good life and being happy. When people think of what a good life consists of they often talk about being fulfilled. Sit down and think about what would fulfil you. Is it about materialistic things such as the bigger house or nicer car or is it about a better work-life balance and doing something you actually enjoy for a living?

I often advise my students to pick up as many skills as possible whilst they work out what they want to do and who they want to be. If in doubt look at what you can learn to do and spend time following what interests you. Your have access to almost any knowledge imaginable at your fingertips through the internet so there is no excuse to not start today.

We would like to wish you all a happy new year.