Mental Health Awareness Week 2024: Movement

Date

13th May 2024

Author

Sarah Palmer

It is Mental Health Awareness Week 2024! This time of year, is dedicated to sharing resources, tips, and global support to help each other. The Mental Health Foundation is known as the home of Mental Health Awareness Week and have focused on movement as their topic for 2024. We are going to be looking at different ways moving can impact your wellbeing, how to motivate yourself as well as resources to help when you are struggling.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVEMENT

Movement can be beneficial to your overall health. Moving more can help you get a good night’s sleep, boost your energy levels, improve concentration, build your immune system, and enhance your mental well-being. When doing forms of exercise our brain releases ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters including dopamine and endorphins that lifts our mood and reduces stress levels. https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/movement-is-medicine/

WAYS YOU CAN MOVE MORE

There are many ways that you can move throughout the day. Here are just a few activities that you can include into your schedules:

Walking

Go on light or long walks. Outside and around nature can boost your mood even more!

Dancing

Whether this is a class or dancing in the kitchen, dancing to your favourite tunes can give you a boost.

Swimming

Get in a few laps or do some aqua aerobics that are not too harsh on your joints.

House work

Doing a bit of cleaning can get your body moving and make your environment more comfortable.

Online classes

Want to stay in the comfort of your own home? Find some fun online classes that work around your time

Yoga

A great way to build strength mentally and physically, helping with breath work and releasing your tight muscles.

Cycling

Either see the sights outside or use a stationary bike and watch your favourite series.

Rollerblading

Pop on your skates, you can find a local rink or your nearest park and have some fun by yourself or with friends.

Running

This can be short bursts or a marathon, whatever works for you and your body.

Weights and Strength Training

Build your muscles with a selection of weight training exercises.

Want to see more ways to get your body moving? Check out the NHS website here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/

MOVEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

Maintaining a healthy mental wellbeing is important in all aspects of daily life. At Creative Alliance we focus on work-based learning for those who want to begin their career with a creative apprenticeship. It can be difficult to set time aside for movement when you are working full time. Here are a few ways you can get moving more in your workplace:

Stretching: Get up and stretch your muscles for at least 5-10 minutes every hour to improve circulation and reduce muscles stiffness. Set timers if this helps to remind you.

Walking: Go out for a small walk when you take breaks. Move away from your desk, get some fresh air and get your body moving.

Grab a drink: Get up, pop the kettle on and move your body while you are waiting for it to boil.

Take the stairs: Whenever you need to go up or down in your office, take the stairs and get your legs moving.

Find more ways to move at work here.

MOTIVATIONS FOR MOVEMENT

Movement can have many benefits, but sometimes the lack of motivation can make it harder to get started. Whether that is the windy and rainy weather outside, a busy schedule or just a low mood, here are some tips to get you moving:

Exercise with others: Meet up with friends, family or colleagues and get moving together

Join classes: Work out with others with your favourite classes online or in person

Do what you enjoy: Pushing yourself to do something you hate will not make you feel better, stick with the things that bring you joy and would want to do consistently.

Set goals: Write them down and work towards them, make them realistic for you to not feel discouraged

Make it a routine: Life can be busy, carve out time for you and your wellbeing . This could be 5-10 mins each day to build up habits.

Create an awesome playlist: Find the music that makes you move and build your very own playlist to get you in the mood

Try new things: Do you get bored easily doing the same things over and over? Try some new ones, explore different options to find new passions. Or try to do things you already do in a different way from before.

Fitness Tracker: Track your goals and see your progress

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Taking care of your mental health is always a priority. Sometimes it can become overwhelming, and it is hard to know where to turn when it is all too much. We have gathered a bunch of resources to help you.

Mental Health Foundation
To find something near you: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/how-to-find-local-mental-health-services/
Tips to Anxiety in the workplace
Always talk to people you trust and speak to your GP about any struggles you are facing.

DONATIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH

Through donations, charities such as these can continue to make a significant impact on people and their wellbeing. With this money, they are able to discover new research to forward our knowledge on mental health and allow access to support everyone. There are a few ways that you can help.

Regular or one-off payments to your chosen charity.

Leave a legacy to your chosen charity.

Give as you live (raise money by shopping online).

Give in memory to your chosen charity.

Savoo (Online shopping platform that pay on your behalf when you make a purchase).

Celebration giving to your chosen charity.

Fundraising to your chosen charity.

Philanthropy and major gifts to your chosen charity.

Payroll giving to your chosen charity.

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