PLANNING FOR WELLBEING

Like most things in life, we usually make plans and come up with strategies in response to something happening. Maybe a pipe has burst in your bathroom. You call a plumber, make a plan and respond. Maybe you’re planning a holiday. You decide to do it, then go on a booking website, find the holiday and arrange it. We respond when we are ready.

Often we take the same response to our wellbeing. We realise we are struggling with a challenge - maybe anxiety or depression - and then we make a plan. We act in response.

The funny thing is that the best time to plan for a crisis is when you’re well - when you’re doing well and thriving. There your thinking is clearest and the pressure is off.

So in this article we’d like to encourage you to make a very simple plan to support your wellbeing.

Often when life challenges hit us we can be taken by surprise by them but we can also think and plan simply and securely, so that when difficulties arise we know something of how we can respond.

FIRST STEPS

Get hold of some paper and pen, make yourself a drink and give yourself some time to reflect on how you’re doing.

Start with the question “what does being well look like?” List five things against this heading.

WHAT DOES BEING WELL LOOK LIKE?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5

This gives you a sense of what a healthy and thriving you looks like. It allows you to know what you’re talking about.

Then ask who or what helps my wellbeing and who or what hinders my wellbeing.

WHO AND WHAT HELPS MY WELLBEING?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5

WHO AND WHAT HINDERS MY WELLBEING

1.

2.

3.

4.

5

This is where the planning begins. We begin to see what helps our wellbeing - people, space, creativity, reflection, food, sports. Make time for each of these things in your weekly life. Make sure they are a priority.

When we look at what hinders wellbeing, this list is our warning light. When we see too much of this in our life we know things might become hard.

Finally, try and answer the following questions to put some plans in place.

WHEN I’M STRUGGLING IN MY WELLBEING, WHO CAN I ASK FOR HELP?

WHAT REGULAR PRACTICE WILL HELP ME WITH THE WELLBEING CHALLENGES I STRUGGLE WITH?

WHAT ONE THING CAN I DO TO SPEND MORE TIME/FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT HELP MY WELLBEING?

There may be other questions and areas you begin to think about. How are your diet, sleep or exercise? What are the particular challenges that affect you e.g. stress.

Write down your plan and keep it somewhere safe. Why not discuss it with a friend too?

As ever we’d love to know how you get on.