Five simple actions for better mental health

Living your best retirement  

Keeping yourself well is an important part of retirement. Here are five actions to improve your wellbeing.

What does good mental health look like?

Good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness. It means feeling good about yourself, coping with stress, being productive, and contributing to the community.

Welcome to The Big 5

MindSpot, a free clinical mental health service funded by the Australian government, researched which activities help keep your mental health in good order.

They found that people who do these ‘Big 5’ activities at least 3-4 times a week tend to have better mental health than people who don’t do them.

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Meaningful activities

Which activities bring you accomplishment, joy or satisfaction? Maybe it’s being in the great outdoors, playing cards with your friends, or making things with your hands.

Is there something you love to do, but have stopped doing?

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Healthy thinking

Healthy thinking is about treating yourself (and others) with respect and having realistic thoughts about yourself, the world and the future.

If all the doom and gloom in the world is getting you down, maybe it’s time to focus on something positive. Spend a couple of minutes thinking about what you’re grateful for, noticing the good in others or reading old fashioned good news stories.

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Goals and plans 

Setting a goal or plan helps us stay motivated and gives us something to look forward to. Thinking ahead can also stop us from dwelling on problems of the past.

Is there a trip you’ve been meaning to take, a big book you’ve always wanted to tackle or volunteering you’ve been meaning to do? Now might be the time to start.

Charting your progress can be fun too.

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Healthy routines

The routines and tasks we do automatically, like going to sleep and waking up at the same time, set us up for the day. Think about when you last felt really good – what were your habits and routines?

Even small changes - like eating fruit and veg every day – can make a big difference over time.

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Social connections 

Regular contact with loved ones can make us feel connected. Don’t wait for others to connect – pick up your phone and contact someone you miss.

Even better, make catching up (in person or on the phone) a regular thing.

Want to know more?

MindSpot provides free and confidential services, for people to learn about their mental wellbeing and learn how to manage their symptoms. If you need help today, see MindSpot's page on seeking urgent help.

Visit MindSpot