Relaxing baths, exercise, talking to family, friends, good food, time out or day out

Walks in the countryside

Playing golf – being out in the open space and surrounded by green space and birdsong

Some physical activity eg gardening. Keeping up social contacts and planning future projects.

I do some volunteering with a national charity. I like to be able to stay in or near my house, so it’s good that I have found some volunteering that suits me but also gives me that feeling of contributing to something else and using my IT skills.

Whenever I cycle downhill I grin like a cheshire cat and feel like a kid again – it’s a fantastic feeling and always lifts my mood.

Few people realise that when Churchill said “We shall fight them on the beaches…” and “Dig for victory”, what he was really talking about was his secret passion for sandcastle building; the heroic and largely unspoken daily struggle to keep the ocean at bay around our coastline. Whenever possible, I like to pitch in and do my bit – it’s a free, environmentally-friendly work-out often in beautiful surroundings and very satisfying to see the instant results, even if the sea always seems to win. So my ‘top tip’ for mood enhancement – always keep a plastic spade in the boot of your car.

Life can be tough with its many challenges. Just like anyone else, these impact on my mood and overall well-being.

Here’s what helps:

1. Pause… When I take a step back and pause for breath it helps me see things differently
2. Notice and accept… this gives me permission to feel the way I do and I know that eventually it will pass.
3. Helping it along…by now I know my bag of tricks that help me get back on form. These include:
   • More zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
   • Less work
   • and a little of what I like…

Living in Edinburgh for several years and being in proximity to its excellent Picture Houses has taught me to truly recognize and appreciate the positive experience of film watching.  I get a buzz from watching films, even if I think a film is rubbish or not something I personally connect with, I still get something from it because you always come away from the experience with more than you went in (even if it is confirming how mind-numbingly empty a Transformers film is likely to be). 

 The very best films (or plays) have the power to make me feel a heightened sense of being alive for a short while afterwards.  The emotional parts of our brain connect more immediately with images and metaphors than mere words and text, so in this way good cinema (or good television) can add to our experience of being a human being.

There are two main things I need in my life to keep well:

First, it’s about taking some time out of my routine and enjoying myself. This usually means being outdoors and doing something active. I find that the change in pace gives me a chance to clear my thoughts, to relax and just smile.

And secondly, it has to be contact with family and friends. Whether it is catching up with friends locally or logging into the wonderful skype and chatting with family and friends back home, I find listening to their stories and sharing mine definitely helps me to stay connected.