Actions you can take towards achieving well-being
Here are six simple, everyday steps that can help improve your well-being:
Connect.
Connect and spend time developing relationships with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors. Go along to a community event, take an art class or start a book club. You might consider joining a choir, since the feel-good factor of group singing has been well documented.
Even if you aren't engaged in an activity, spend time with people who encourage and admire you rather than those who gossip, criticise and dwell on problems.
Be active.
You don't have to necessarily go to the gym; take a walk, go cycling or play football. Find an activity you enjoy and make it a part of your life.
It's worth endlessly repeating: exercise is good for you. Research shows that on average, depressed people only exercise half as much as those who aren't depressed. Yet exercise may be as effective as medication in relieving milder forms of depression.
Keep learning.
Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. By joining a course, you could learn to play a musical instrument, figure out how to fix your bike or how to cook your favourite food.
Set a challenge you will enjoy. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do.
Take notice.
Be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts - your body and the world around you. Some people call this type of awareness, ‘mindfulness’, and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach life's challenges.
You can look for something beautiful or remark on something unusual. Savour the moment, whether you are on a bus or in a taxi, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Give to others.
Even the smallest act counts, whether it's a smile, a ‘thank you’ or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering in your area, can improve your mental well-being and help you make new friends along the way.
Volunteer work is another good way to feel better about yourself, add to your self-esteem and promote feelings of contentment.
Get some sleep.
Sleep is critical to our emotional wellbeing and mental ability. Persistent sleep deprivation causes erratic behaviour, mood swings and even hallucinations.
Other tips for a good sleep? Sleeping rituals (putting on your pajamas, brushing your teeth, reading a last story) give your mind hints that it’s time to slow down. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, diet pills, and heavy or spicy meals before bedtime. And maintain a dark, cool and quiet bedroom for a good night’s sleep.
CSUSB Recreation & Wellness
Take advantage of an on-campus facility dedicated to your recreation and well-being. Any current CSUSB faculty, staff, or alumni association member is eligible for membership.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
State Employee Wellness Program
State Employee Wellness Program
The mission of the state employee wellness program, California WorksWell, is to promote a work environment that encourages healthy lifestyle choices, decreases the risk of illness and disease, and enhances employee effectiveness and well-being.