Most agree that giving to others is a good idea however giving to others has a knock on effect on ourselves by improving the givers mental wellbeing.

Most agree that giving to others is a good idea however giving to others has a knock on effect on ourselves by improving the givers mental wellbeing.
From small acts of kindness to volunteering, giving can give you a sense of purpose, community and connectedness.
Sometimes we think of our wellbeing in terms of what we have; our income, car, home or job. Evidence shows that what we do and the way we think has the biggest impact on mental wellbeing.
Positive mental wellbeing means feeling good about yourself and the world around you and being able to get on with your life.
Helping and supporting others and working with others towards a shared goal is good for our mental wellbeing. A 2003 study in 373 older adults found that some aspect of wellbeing were higher in those who did volunteer projects compared with those who did not.
Scientists have shown that giving to others can stimulate the reward areas in the brain helping to create positive feelings. Helping others also gives a sense of purpose and feelings of self-worth.

Evidence show that good relationships with family, friends, colleagues and the wider community are important for mental wellbeing.

Many of us would like to spend more time with the people who are most important to us but sometimes life just gets in the way of that. We must make time to connect with the people that matter to us. By nurturing these relationships we feel happier and more secure, giving a better sense of purpose.
A 2002 study of 222 students in the US found that the happiest amongst the group had stronger social relationships than those who were less happy.

Some tips to stay connected:

Make time each day to connect with your family, friends and colleagues. This could include ‘family time’ that is a fixed time to connect each day.
Arrange a day out with friends you may not have connected with recently. Most people connect on social media sites like Facebook but a face to face contact spending your time with your friends is so much more meaningful and beneficial than a “like” or “comment” on Facebook.
Reduce your screen time when you are in company. Put the phone away, close your laptop, turn off the TV and have a chat.
Try connecting with someone new today. Talk to the person beside you on the train or in the shop. This conversation may mean even more to the person you connect with than you realise.
Leave your desk for your lunch and sit with a colleague catching up on non-work matters.
It can be as simple as a smile at a passer-by.

Learning new skills is both useful and it can also positively affect our mental wellbeing. Learning means different things to everyone. To some it will be a new qualification and to others it will be learning a new recipe in the kitchen.

Learning new skills is both useful and it can also positively affect our mental wellbeing. Learning means different things to everyone. To some it will be a new qualification and to others it will be learning a new recipe in the kitchen.
Evidence shows that continuing to learn throughout life can help improve and maintain our mental wellbeing.
Mental Wellbeing means feeling good about yourself and the world around you and being able to get on with your life the way you choose.
In 2004 a study interviewed 145 adults about learning throughout life and various aspects of their health and wellbeing. It found that people who involved themselves in more learning reported feeling higher self-esteem, a greater ability to cope with stress, and more feelings of self-confidence, hope and purpose.
Setting goals and working towards them plays an important part in the way learning influences wellbeing. Many forms of learning involve contact with others which connects us to our communities and peers.

It is easy to rush through daily life without stopping to notice much. Paying attention to the present moment – to our own thoughts, feelings and to the world around you can improve your mental wellbeing.

Taking Notice is also called Mindfulness. It is easy to incorporate mindfulness into your life and can be a very powerful tool if learnt and practiced daily.
Mental wellbeing means being feeling good about life and yourself and having the ability to get on with life in the way you want.
Many think about wellbeing in terms of what you have; your income, car, house or job. Evidence shows that what we do and the way we think have the biggest impact on wellbeing.
To Take Notice is to notice the sights, smells, sounds and tastes you experience as well as your thoughts and feelings that occur from one moment to the next.
It’s easy to lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling and to end up living in our heads. An important part of Taking Notice is to reconnect with our bodies and the sensations they are experiencing. It can be something as simple as the feel of your knife and fork in your hands.
Most of us have issues we find hard to let go of and mindfulness can help us deal with them more productively. Awareness of this kind also helps us notice signs of stress or anxiety earlier and helps us deal with them better.

Being active is great for your physical and mental wellbeing. Evidence proves there is a link between being active physically and good mental wellbeing.

Mental wellbeing means feeling good about yourself, about the world around you and having the ability to get on with life in the way you want.
Being active doesn’t mean you need to train for a marathon. You need to find physical activity that you enjoy and can fit into your daily/ weekly routine. This may be a daily walk to the shops instead of taking the car, a weekly gardening session, some yoga, swimming or a weekend walk.
Scientists confirm physical activity can help maintain wellbeing and good mental health in a number of ways:
Physical activity helps with mild depression. Evidence shows it can protect people against the onset of depression and anxiety.
Physical activity causes a chemical change in the brain which can help change our mood.
Physical activity brings about a sense of greater self-esteem, self-control and the ability to rise to a challenge – all of which help improve wellbeing.

Bantry

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Bantry Carers

Location: Bantry Support Centre
Activity: Peer to peer support
Day: Tuesday 10am – 1pm
Thursday: 2pm – 5pm
Cost: Free
Contact: Aideen Murphy 027-53848

Yoga @ Arc House

Location: Arc House, Bantry
Activity: Yoga
Day: Tuesday
Time: 11am
Price: Free
Contact: Catriona 083-1988580

Bantry Book Club

Location: Bantry Library
Activity: Book Club
Day: First Thursday of Each Month
Time: 12pm
Cost: Free
Contact: 027-50460

Piloxing

Activity: Piloxing
Location: New You Studio, Marino Street
Day: Tuesday
Time: 7pm
Price: €10
Contact: Robin / 087-2115370

Quakers in Bantry

Location: Christian Fellowship Church
Day: 2nd Tuesday of Each Month
Time: 6pm
Web: westcorkquakers.com

Bantry Breastfeeding Support Group

Location: Bantry Primary Care Centre
Activity: Breastfeeding Support
Day: Monday
Time: 10:30am

Bantry Open Water Swimmers

Location: Abbey Pier
Activity: Open Water Swimming
Day: Wednesday & Saturday
Time: 5:30pm

Bantry Parent & Toddler Group

Location: Gaelscoil Hall
Activity: Parent & Toddler Group
Day: Monday
Time: 9:45am-11:45am

Grow

Location: Droumleigh Resource Centre
Activity: Peer to peer support
Day: Monday
Time: 8pm
Cost: Free
Phone: 021-4277520

Yogafit West Cork

Location: Life Balance Yoga
Activity: Yoga
Day: Tuesday
Time: 7pm
Contact: 086 3767467

Bingo

Location: Boys Club
Activity: Bingo
Day: Sunday
Time: 8:30pm

Writing Group

Location: Bantry Library
Activity: Writing Group
Day: Second Saturday of Each Month
Time: 11am
Cost: Free
Contact: 027-50460

Zumba Dance

Activity: Zumba Dancing
Location: The Boys Club, Bantry
Day: Wednesday
Time: 7pm
Price: €10
Contact: Robin / 087-2115370

Unislim

Activity: Peer Supported Weight Loss
Location: The Westlodge Hotel
Day: Thursday
Time: 10am / 5.30pm
Contact: Maura
Phone: 087-2989104

Slimming World

Location: The Westlodge Hotel
Day: Tuesday
Time: 5.30pm / 7.30pm
Price: €9
Contact: Abigail
Phone: 086-8913060

Toastmasters

Activity: Public Speaking
Location: The Westlodge Hotel
Day: Wednesday Fortnightly (2nd & 04th of Month)
Time: 8pm
Cost: Free for first 3 meetings, membership fee thereafter
Contact: Finn o’Mahony 086-3092942

Snooker/Pool

Activity: Snooker / Pool
Location: The Boys Club, Bantry
Activity: Snooker/Pool (Tables available)
Day: Open Daily (6pm-10pm)
Price: Pay per game
Contact: 027-51191

Cappabue NS Parent and Toddler Group

Location: Cappabue National School
Activity: Parent and Toddler Get-together
Day: Friday
Time: 12.30-2pm
Contact: Heidi 083-4590430
OR: Follow on Facebook for confirmation of details

Mindfulness @ Arc House

Location: Arc House, Bantry
Activity: Mindfulness
Day: Thursday
Time: 11am
Price: Free
Contact: Catriona 083-1988580

Park Run, Glengarriff

Location: The Park, Glengarriff
Activity: Run, walk or jog
Day: Saturday
Time: 9.30am
Cost: Free
Contact: No need – Just arrive on the day

Bantry Yarns

Activity: Knitting
Contact: Mary Sharkey
Phone: 086-3604166

Open Music Sessions

Location: Bantry Bay Hotel
Activity: Open Music Sessions
Day: Wednesday
Time: 9pm
Cost: Free
Contact: 027-55789

Pilates

Activity: Pilates
Day: Varied
Time: Varied
Contact: Eleanor
Phone: 087-7530403

Gentle Yoga

Activity: Gentle Yoga
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 10am-11am
Contact: Keeley

Bantry Community Choir

Location: The Maritime Hotel
Activity: Music and Singing
Day: Thursday
Time: 7.30pm
Cost: €7
Contact: Louise 086-0845706

Disclaimer: The website is an information resource about wellbeing.

The material contained on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute care, treatment or other professional advice. Due to the general nature of the information on this site, should you require specific help, you should seek the assistance of an appropriately trained professional person.

While every care has been taken in the preparation of the information, due to the nature of the website, the information may not be complete, correct or up to date. Please contact Activity providers for validation of information.

Please contact Kathleen.harrinton@nln.ie should you wish to have information update or removed from this website.

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The Wellbeing Network, West Cork
Contact:
National Learning Network Bantry t: 027 51027 e: wellbeingnetwork@nln.ie
Kevin O'Shanahan t: 086 7872481 e: kevin.oshanahan@hse.ie