Ways to improve your wellbeing this January

Start the new year well

Now is the time to make some small changes for a happier life. Read our guide to start 2025 the right way and boost your wellbeing!

Connect

Being around other people can help boost our mood and help us feel connected to the wider world. You could start by giving a friend or family member a call.

If you want to chat with someone new, our libraries and Warm Welcome spaces are great places to have a hot drink and meet others. You could also try a social activity, either in person or online. For inspiration, take a look at our wellbeing events and library events.

Connecting with nature and animals, has also been shown to positively benefit our mental wellbeing. There are many local parks and nature reserves that are easily accessible to those who may be less able, as well as opportunities to volunteer outdoors.

Across Surrey, there are numerous walking for health groups offering different levels of walks according to walkers' abilities. You will be guided by a fully trained walks leader in a group of people with similar abilities.

Be active

Even small amounts of exercise can boost your mental alertness, reduce stress, give you more energy and increase self-esteem. The Healthy Surrey website has some great suggestions on how to increase activity, from 10 minute daily walks to joining a local sports club or gym.

Active Surrey are also working with our libraries to help you improve your physical health. All library members over 18+ can now borrow a free health and activity tracker (smartwatch) from any Surrey Library. Reserve your tracker online or pop into your local branch.

Download the BetterPoints app and kick-start your new year with the Thrive in '25 challenge. Log every 10-minute journey of walking, wheeling, running, or cycling on the app in January to enter daily prize draws for outdoor accessories. The first 100 new users in January will also receive a £2.50 Costa Coffee voucher for recording an active journey of 10 minutes or more.

Guildford Library offers a FitKit as part of their Library of Things. The FitKit includes equipment ranging from cricket and rounder sets to hula hoops and even walking poles and a boccia set. This is a great way to try before you buy or save some money on a weekend activity.

Take notice

Noticing the sensations of things, like the smells around us, the tastes in the food we eat, the feel of our clothes on our body, can interrupt the 'autopilot' mode, and give us new perspectives. This is also known as mindfulness.

If you get the chance, practice mindfulness by taking in some nature in Surrey's beautiful countryside, either on foot or on two wheels.

Give

Giving to others can stimulate your brain to release endorphins - chemicals which are associated with trust, pleasure and social connections. Being happy also means that you are more likely to give to others, so it's a great way to begin a cycle of generosity. You could start today by giving your time, expertise or enthusiasm to a worthwhile cause. Check out our guide to volunteering for more information.

There are also lots of other ways to give. You could give blood and potentially save someone's life. You could make a small charity donation. You could give back to the environment by finding ways to conserve energy.

Keep learning

Learning new things doesn't just exercise your brain. It also boosts your confidence and gives you a sense of achievement.

Learning can happen in a variety of ways, from classes and courses to reading, doing puzzles and learning new recipes. To challenge your idea of learning and get some inspiration, visit the Healthy Surrey learning webpage.

You could also check out our Skills Bootcamps for free flexible courses across a range of industries to fast track your future. If you want to improve your maths skills, take a look at our Multiply programme. Lastly, for a wider range of courses, you can visit our adult learning webpages.

For more information, visit the Surrey Five Ways to Wellbeing website.

Share your wellbeing tips

We want to hear how you maintain your wellbeing. Whether there is a place you like to go or something you like to do, the way in which you look after your own happiness could prove helpful for other. You can email us at surrey.matters@surreycc.gov.uk or message us via our social media channels, so we can share your tips with other residents in the future.