What are they?
There has been a lot of research into what affects our mental wellbeing, and time and time again, a few things were consistently shown to make a positive difference. These are known as the Five Ways to Wellbeing. If you give them a try, you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life.
Being Active
We think that the mind and body are separate, but what you do with your body can have a powerful effect on your mental wellbeing. You don't have to go to the gym - take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.
Connecting with others
When it comes to our wellbeing, other people matter. Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors’. Spend time developing these relationships. Evidence shows that good relationships – with family, friends and our wider communities – are important for our mental wellbeing. Building stronger, wider social connections can help us feel happier and more secure, and give us a greater sense of purpose. You can find lots of social groups on Yammer covering a wide range of interests. Why not take a look to meet some likeminded people.
Taking Notice
It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much. Be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Mindfulness can help us enjoy life more and understand ourselves better. You can take steps to develop it in your own life. Check out the JLR Mindfulness e-learning course on SuccessFactors.
Giving to others
Even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Most people would agree that giving to others is a good thing. But it can also do a lot of good for your own mental wellbeing. It can make you feel happier and more satisfied with life. Sometimes we think of wellbeing in terms of what we have: our income, our home or car, or our job. But evidence suggests it's our actions and our thoughts that have the biggest impact on mental wellbeing. Helping and supporting other people, and working with others towards a shared goal, is good for our mental wellbeing. JLR employees can have up to 16 hours a year to spend volunteering, so why not arrange a team volunteering day instead of the usual team day activities?
Keep learning
It doesn't have to mean getting more qualifications. There are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life. Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement, new confidence, and build self-esteem. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike? Learning new skills can be useful, but research shows it can also improve our mental wellbeing. Our Employee Learning Scheme allows you to get £250 a year towards a huge number of courses, covering things from jewellery making to advanced driving. Why not give it a go and learn something new?
You can find a wealth of learning resources within the Jaguar and Land Rover Learning Academy to help engage and inspire
Every Mind Matters
Public Health England’s Every Mind Matters campaign aims to help everyone take better care of their own mental health. They’ve created a helpful tool to build your own mind plan, which includes lots more helpful tips like the ones on this page. Visit our Every Mind Matters page to find our more and take the quiz.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s important you seek some help from your GP. If it’s affecting your ability to work, speak to your manager to see if a referral to Occupational Health is appropriate. You can contact our EAP for free and confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year.