COVID-19 Funding from the Community Fund Feb-April 2021
When we set out to form our Ways to Wellbeing – Self Care for Parents in Teignmouth and Surrounds Facebook group – we knew we needed to enlist some local experts to fill in some gaps in our knowledge.
We enlisted Esther O’Brien who is well versed on running online communities and a skilled public speaker along with Nina Jeffries who owns the local gym, the PB Suite and is a Personal Trainer – our expert in movement & nutrition.
We figured we could develop the content together and Esther pushed us to do Facebook Lives as an alternative to static posts. I must say, without Esther’s support, I would not have been bold enough to do these!
As it happens they have been hugely gratifying to do and have provided a way of engaging with our wellbeing message that is easy to access, is there to listen to as an when and made real as we talk about the science of wellbeing, the practice, the art and the tools that can be used – all of which we put into the context of our own lives as working parents – warts and all.
We drew upon the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ developed by the New Economics Foundation, and now widely used in the NHS and other services like MIND. These are the themes we have followed, although we have also included ‘Blue Zones’ as there is local interest and a GP led health initiative to support plant based and whole food eating.
Here are a couple of our posts:
Practising & Cultivating Gratitude for Self Care & Happiness
Yesterday we talked about cultivating the practice of gratitude as a simple yet highly effective way to boost mental and physical wellbeing. It’s a great antidote to anxiety and stress and doesn’t take a lot to build a daily habit.~ notice what feels good and appreciate it – naming it helps~ talk about 3 things you are grateful for at the dinner table~ write 3 things you are grateful for before sleep~ text a friend or family member a thank you, telling them you are grateful for them~ bring gratitude into your day. And of course, thank you for reading this.
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~ Marvel at how much fun children have with the simplest of things~ Be aware of the world around you and what you are feelingTip:Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you
Lighthouse South Devon 