Staying Fit For The Future - Wellbeing Network

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.

Staying Fit For The Future

Cork Sports Partnership has partnered with the HSE and Physiotherapy Department to roll out this exciting new programme in Cork.

The Staying Fit for the Future with Better Balance Better Bones programme is a physical activity programme that will improve strength and balance as well as your general aerobic fitness.
Staying Fit for the Future with Better Balance Better Bones is a weekly exercise class in a community setting that will challenge and train components needed for maintaining good independent movement (strength, flexibility, range of movement, static and dynamic balance) which will allow one to therefore challenge/train the cardiovascular system through other forms of exercise and the environmental factors such as steps, paths, darkness, hills etc. will not become an obstacle to continued confidence participation in society.

Who is the programme aimed at:

This programme is suitable for adults who walk unaided and want to stay strong on their feet and falls free for life. It is not suitable for people who have fallen in the past 12 months or who use a walking stick or frame.

If you are wondering if the programme is suitable please attempt the following simple test of balance and strength:

Cross your arms across your chest, then keeping your arms crossed stand on 1 leg, now close your eyes and stand tall and steady for 10 seconds…

If you find yourself a good bit more wobbly than you expected, this programme is for you! Programmes are delivered by exercise professionals who have been trained by HSE Physiotherapists in the Staying Fit For the Future, Better Balance Better Bones Programme.

Programme Details:

Start Date: Week commencing the 13th September – 20 locations
Length – 8 weeks
Cost: €40

Programme Includes:

Participant Booklet.
Advice & Tips for staying active

How to book a place in one of our classes:

Please contact Cork Sports Partnership to book a place on 021 4347096 and for information on upcoming Staying Fit For the Future programmes in your community.

Upcoming SFF Venues & Times

East Cork	Time	Start Date
Youghal	10:00am	Wed April 27th 2022
Ballintotis	9:30am & 10:30am	Mon April 25th 2022
Cobh	11:30pm	Thur April 28th 2022
Midleton	9:30am	Thur April 28th 2022
Gortaroo (Online)	10:00am	Thur April 28th 2022

North Cork	Time	Start Date
Newmarket	11:00am	Tue April 26th 2022
Fermoy	10:00am & 11:00am	Wed April 27th 2022
Dromtarriffe	1:00pm	Tue April 26th 2022
Buttevant	11:00am	Wed April 27th 2022
Whitechurch	11:00am	Fri April 29th 2022

Cork City & Central	Time	Start Date
Blackrock/Mahon	10:00am	Mon April 25th 2022
Glanmire	11:30am	Mon April 25th 2022
St. Finbarr's Togher	11:00am & 12:00pm	Thur April 28th 2022
Donoughmore	12:00pm	Thur April 28th 2022
Gurranabraher	11:00am	Wed April 27th 2022
Carrigaline	11:15am	Tue April 26th 2022
Riverstick	9:30am	Tue April 26th 2022

West Cork	Time	Start Date
Ballineen	10:00am	Wed April 27th 2022
Dunmanway	10:30am & 11:30am	Wed April 27th 2022
Clonakilty	11:45am	Wed April 27th 2022
Kilmurry/Crookstown - Beginners	5:00pm & 6:00pm	Mon April 25th 2022
Aughadown - St. Matthews Parish Hall, The Old Hall, Gurteenroe, Church Cross	9:15am	Tue April 26th 2022
Bantry	9:15am & 10:15am	Thurs April 28th 2022
Ballinascarthy	10:30am	Tue April 26th 2022
Beara (Online)	7:00pm	Wed April 27th 2022
Darrara	10:30am	Thurs April 28th 2022
Unionhall	10:30am & 11:30am	Thurs April 28th 2022
Durrus	11:00am	Tue 26th April 2022
Kinsale	2:00pm	Thur April 28th 2022
Kealkill	9:00am	Thurs April 28th 2022
Lisavaird	10:00am	Wed April 27th 2022

Click here to book your venue & time for an 8-week physical activity programme to improve strength and balance as well as general aerobic fitness.

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