5 Unexpected Ways to Boost Your Wellbeing

More of us than ever before are looking for ways to boost our overall health and wellbeing. Perhaps you are improving your diet, exercising more regularly, or taking vitamins and supplements to support your body. Along with effective rest and relaxation, these are some of the best ways to increase your overall wellbeing — but what about the more unconventional suggestions? 

There are many small things we can do each day which will contribute over time to greatly improved health.

And with greater health, we are able to enjoy our lives more, while supporting our loved ones in their lives too. 

Check out this selection of five less well-known ways to boost your wellness, and see what improvements you can make!

1. Improve Your Cleaning Routines

Cleanliness isn’t simply for aesthetics. A clean and tidy home or workspace can also minimise the presence of dirt, dust and bacteria. This can help to support our immune function, as well as reduce the risk of aggravating allergies, or respiratory conditions.

Ways to improve your cleaning can be as simple or extensive as you like. Simple ways might include rubbing down your surfaces with a disinfectant wipe every evening, or setting aside 10 minutes a day to clean and tidy.

You may wish to create a weekly cleaning routine for each area of the house — and share it with your family or housemates! You may also consider hiring a cleaning professional, if you are short on time, energy, or simply want to enjoy the effects of a professional deep clean!

2. Learn First Aid

Taking a first aid course can be a great investment in the health and wellbeing of yourself and those around you. Studies show that feeling qualified and competent boosts our confidence and wellbeing overall.

Plus, you will have the specific skills needed to provide first aid (for both yourself and others) and to prevent a minor incident from becoming a potential emergency. This can be a huge asset both at home and at work.

There are accredited first aid courses available for individuals, teams, and almost everything in between. You can also explore courses in something specific, such as first aid for children, or mental health first aid. 

Learning a new skill such as first aid is also a great way to train your brain and stay mentally agile.

3. Add A Portion of Greens To Your Meals

Recent studies have shown that most people need to increase their intake of fruit and vegetables, with green leafy vegetables being the most under-eaten of all.

Even adding one single extra portion of greens a day to your diet mounts up over time, and can help reduce the risk of certain illnesses and health conditions developing. In particular, dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, arugula, and chard, are packed with nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, iron, fibre, magnesium, and more. They are a powerhouse!

Ways to add this extra portion of greens could be to have dark leafy greens on your daily sandwich, blended into a smoothie, or added as a side dish with dinner. Always check with a qualified health professional if you are concerned about your nutritional requirements, or need further dietary advice.

4. Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene

Great oral hygiene is not just important for maintaining the health of our teeth and our gums, and for keeping our breath fresh; unhealthy gums have also been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

Further studies have even shown a link between poor gum health, poor oral hygiene, and a compromised immune system. This shows that our oral health has an impact on our overall health and wellbeing.

You can maintain your oral hygiene by using an effective toothbrush, an antibacterial mouthwash, and dental floss, while eating a balanced diet with reduced sugar and alcohol.

Look after your oral health, and it will look after you! 

5. Do Something For Others

A lesser known health and wellbeing technique is to actively try to help others. The Mental Health Foundation recently published findings that show helping others has a positive impact on our own mental health – boosting our overall welfare and wellbeing as a result.

While it is important to take care of ourselves, it can also be beneficial and positive to support others too. You could even consider volunteering (whether online or in person), assisting a work colleague with a task they dislike, or perhaps asking friends and family how you could support them better.

Creating a network of kindness and connection by supporting others will help us to feel supported too!