Start spring with a smile

As we start to move into the spring season and step away from the cold, dark evenings of winter, it’s important to remind ourselves to take care of our mental wellbeing and find ways to stay active. Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes offer several local activities and resources offering small ways we can help manage our mood.

There are small steps you could consider as ways to boost your mood.

Exercise: Many people find that physical activity can improve mental health – staying active can improve your sleep by making you feel more tired at the end of the day.  It can also help to give you energy throughout the day and make you feel better about yourself.  Physical activity is also a brilliant way to manage stress and anxiety, as exercising can give your brain something to focus on and can be a helpful coping technique during stressful times.

Talk to someone: Talking to someone is an important way to manage stress, it can help take the ‘weight’ off your shoulders and give your thoughts a voice.  Reassurance and someone to listen to you are effective methods of coping, rather than bottling up negative feelings to yourself.

Healthy eating: A well-balanced diet and staying hydrated will also keep you happy and healthy, so it’s important to eat regularly to maintain energy levels.  Try snacks such as nuts, seeds, and cereal as a method of slow releasing energy.

Sleep: The recommended amount of sleep for an adult is 7-8 hours.  You can try to maintain this by limiting screentime before sleeping and staying away from caffeine, especially later in the day.

Get outdoors: Nature is a natural mood booster.  With the weather warming up, this is a great time to get outside, enjoy the sunshine and socialise with friends or family.

Dr Sarah Whiteman, Mental Health Clinical Lead of Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“As spring approaches many of will feel our moods lifting.  We know that physical, mental, and social health are all closely linked. Some of these factors we can influence and others not.  A really good way to boost our mental and physical health is to exercise.  A walk outside to enjoy the flowers, longer days and sunshine can really help.  To do that with a friend; even better!”

You can find out more information on our website on how to boost your mood and look after your mental wellbeing at www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters.