Taking care of our own health and wellbeing has never been more important.

Airline safety announcements instruct us to place our oxygen masks on ourselves first, before helping those around us for good reason: if we don’t take cake care of ourselves first, we'll be less able to take care of those around us. 

How are you taking care of your wellbeing? 

Wellbeing relates to how we feel about ourselves and our part in the world. It is affected by our circumstances, lifestyle and our inner resources. High wellbeing means we can engage in positive relationships and activities, have a sense of purpose and cope well with life’s difficulties. 

There are many things we can do to build our inner resources, therefore improving our ability to function well, and boosting our overall sense of wellbeing.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing are just what we need for such a time as this. This simple framework asks you to take five actions to take steps to care for your wellbeing: 

1. BE ACTIVE

Get up; get moving; enjoy a hobby. Activity boosts our mood, builds confidence and protects against cognitive decline. Why not try one of the following ideas to keep active:

  • Indoor workouts: There is a whole range of video workouts available online eg Joe Wicks' video workouts . Want something a little gentler? Try a yoga video or chair exercises. 
  • Outdoor workouts:  Couch to 5k is a gentle build-up for budding runners or Active 10 which guides you to complete three ten-minute walks per day. 

2. CONNECT

Connect with other people, through any means of communication. Relationships are the cornerstones of our lives and enhance our sense of belonging, self-worth and life satisfaction.

  • Catch-up with loved ones for a walk or a coffee. Make time to reconnect with those you haven't spoken to in a while - pick-up the phone, send a postcard. 
  • Take a moment to stop and chat to neighbours or someone in the street. A smile a hello can lift someone's day -- and boost ours.
  • Join online communities such Our LiveWell Facebook Group: Share how you’re doing. Ask others how they're doing. 

3. TAKE NOTICE

Slow down; pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, senses and the world around you. Taking notice helps us to learn about ourselves and feel connected with our world.

  • Try Mindfulness: especially if you are looking after dependents or working from home, there’s a chance our minds will whirr away at this time with thoughts, concerns and worries. Mindfulness is exactly what it isn’t: mind-lessness. Try stilling your thoughts through a 10-minute daily meditation using apps such as Headspace, Calm or Insight Timer. You can also find meditations on YouTube.
  • Open the window: The simple act of opening the window and taking in deep breaths of fresh air will fill your body and mind with fresh energy.

4. KEEP LEARNING

Challenge your mind; learn a new skill. Learning boosts our self-confidence and broadens our horizons.

  • Learn a new language for free using the Duolingo website or app. Pick up that dusty musical instrument stored in the wardrobe.
  • Listen to a new podcast or audiobook. Listen to the pilot episode of the LiveWell Lifestyle Podcast.
  • Join the library online! If you live, work or study in Dorset you can join the library service online. This gives you access to the Borrow Box App where you can borrow and listen to a whole library of audiobooks from the comfort of your home.

5. GIVE

Share with others; do a good deed. Giving activates the brain’s feel-good pathways and gives a sense of connection with our communities.

  • Join your local Facebook group or volunteer in your community. Offer to deliver essential items to elderly neighbours, wealk someone's dog, join a litter picking group.
  • Look out especially for those who may not be able to ask for help through social media.
  • Find out what foodstuffs your local food bank needs and contribute something from your shopping basket when you checkout.
  • Look for volunteering opportunities with local charities

 

Take your next step to LiveWell

We're here for your health and wellbeing. Want to make a change? Register or contact us today to take your next step to LiveWell. 

REGISTER

How does this work?

The tailored approach LiveWell Dorset uses to come up with solutions to the things that are stopping us achieving our goals, is based upon work done by University College London developing the COM-B model of behaviour change. In this model, all behaviour is influenced by understanding a person’s capability to change, their opportunity to change and their motivation to change. By understanding which of these is the biggest barrier to change, we can tailor support accordingly. This model of behaviour change is at the centre of the support we offer, online and in person.

Your Favourites?

or register, to favourite activities that you want to try.

Welcome!

Is this the first time that you've used our services, or have you already registered with us? To allow us to best serve you, please confirm whether you're new to LiveWell Dorset, or if you've spoken to us before and may have an existing account.

Welcome back, it's good to hear from you again!

To speak to one of our dedicated team and get the help you require please request a call back. All call backs from this service are free of charge to both landlines and mobile.

Request a Call Back

Do you provide your consent to share your information with the LiveWell Dorset team – part of Public Health Dorset ?

When you register with LiveWell Dorset, we ask you some questions about you and your health (how much you smoke, how active you are, how much you drink and how much you weigh). We store that information and use it to shape our service offer to you – such as the advice we give or the extra services we connect you to. The only people who will see this information will be those involved in the delivery of the service and management of the data. If you would like to use extra services (such as slimming clubs and pharmacies) we have to share this information with them. For us to be able to put you in touch with these services, we must have your consent to share that information with the service (we’ll ask for that later, when if you sign up for extra services).

Before we can sign you up any further, we need to know:

  • You're happy for your personal information to be shared with LiveWell Dorset.
  • You understand what information may be shared and why, and that at times, our contact to you may be supported by technology partners, who have the same data protection standards and safeguards as we do
  • You acknowledge that you can withdraw your consent at any time by informing LiveWell Dorset.
  • You understand that if you do not give consent or withdraw consent then it could be difficult for us to connect you some of the services we offer.

If you require any more information to help you make your choice then please contact the LiveWell Dorset team on 0800 840 1628. All telephone conversations at LiveWell Dorset are recorded for quality and training purposes, and stored whilst you are registered as active within the service.

Yes I consent

Sorry we can't continue at the moment

Unfortunately we need your permission to store your personal information to help us to assess the best support we could provide or signpost you to. If at any stage you change your mind and are happy to provide your personal information please come back and visit us again.