noun: wellbeing. the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
Well-being, wellbeing, or wellness is the condition of an individual or group. A high level of well-being means that in some sense the individual’s or group’s condition is positive.
Being forced to stop, pause, reflect is highlighting that a lot of our well-intended well-being initiatives are about well-doing and not well-being.
We have all seen the 5 ways to well-being, based on scientific evidence from the Government funded New Economics Foundation with the 5 simple action to improve well-being in every day life.
Connecting:
I am speaking to friends and family more regularly than ever before. I have reconnected with friends who live that bit further away or overseas. I have met some lovely new people through my giving.
Am I over-connecting? Do I have zoom-fatigue?
Giving:
I am gifting my mornings to help connect and grow a community of writers. I am giving my evenings to support a number of women through my facilitation of peer circles. I am off to hospital tomorrow to give as a volunteer in the vaccine trials.
Am I giving too much? I am depleting my energy reserves?
Learning:
I am learning lots about myself, about others and about content I will be delivering. I have completed several online courses for work that I will be doing in the summer term – the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms, NPQ online facilitation and Resilient Leadership.
Am I allowing my brain to have a break? What will the impact of this learning be?
Noticing:
I am noticing the birds in the mornings, the spring flowers on my walks and my garden coming into blossom. My senses seem to be heightened and I am even more sound and smell sensitive than before. I am enjoying my daily ritual of writing each morning. I am also noticing my feelings, the fatigue and the body aches.
Will I continue my daily rituals? Will I listen to my body as well as my mind?
Being Active:
I am walking regularly, exploring the local area. I am a high energy person but I do not really enjoy solo exercise, I am a team sport kind of person. A mobile mechanic has come and fixed my bike…. I really should start that online yoga class…
Will I finally join a sports team? Or return to weekly dance lessons?
I don’t want for anything, I have a roof over my head, food in my fridge, a garden to escape to, loved ones checking in on me. I am eating well, I am sleeping well – I am physically, mentally and emotionally well. But I am craving real time human connecting and physical touch.
I am wondering if there is an action missing now we are experiencing physical distancing? In theory you could do all 5 ways to well-being in social isolation, but that omits the human need for social relationships.
For me it is the social capital, the human connectivity, which makes me feel well – I prefer doing all 5 ways to well-being with others, not by myself. So I would encourage you to be mindful as you build lots of well-doing into your new routines and reflect on what it truly means to be well.
Ethical_Leader 