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.

Take Notice

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Take Notice of what’s available in your community.

Take Notice of…

Bantry's Wild Atlantic Way

This lookout point above Seskin offers the most all-around view of Bantry Town. There is a picnic facility, a walk way which you can explore up to the top of Knocknaveigh Hill, also known locally as Vaughan’s Pass. Notice of the tranquillity, take view of Whiddy Island and the natural environment that surrounds you. Remember your camera for this outing.

Castletownkenneigh Round Tower

One of only two round towers in the county of Cork (the second is in Cloyne), the round tower at Castletownkenneigh has National Monument Status. It is thought to date back to the 10^th or 11^th century, with an additional upper section added in the mid – 19^th century to make a belfry. What is unique about this structure is its 5m-high hectagonal base and this impressive historic tower reaches 20m in height. The tower also has 5 storeys as well as a basement and is overlooking St. Bartholomew’s Church of Ireland Parish Church and cemetery. Access to the interior of the tower is no longer allowed due to safety reasons but enjoy the grounds, the culture and take notice of the beauty that is right on our doorstep in West Cork

Clonakilty Catholic Church’s Stained Glass Paradise

You do not need to be a church goer to appreciate a visit to the Clonakilty Catholic Church. The architecture and stained glass alone attract so much more warranted attention that there are now pamphlets on offer at the church giving visitors details on the glass window by the famed artist Harry Clarke in the church of the Nativity in nearby Timoleague.

Rosscarbery’s Warren Strand

Rosscarbery’s Warren Strand is a gem of a beach and enjoys Blue Flag status. It is family friendly with safe bathing and there are numerous rock pools for children to explore. There is a lifeguard on duty during peak season and toilet facilities. If you prefer to try your hand at fishing, the pier on the western side is a popular angling spot. The walk from the Celtic Ross Hotel to the pier is a popular choice with locals and visitors alike as is the Warren Cliff walk on the eastern side of the beach. Take Notice of the sand between your feet, the sounds of the waves as they creep onto the beach, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, dogs barking and the laugher of children.

Glandore’s Drombeg Stone Circle

Also knows as the Druids Altar, this is a recumbent stone circle consisting of 13 closely spaced stones. Of all the megalithic sites in Ireland, Drombeg is the most visited. A little to the West of the Monument are two round stone walled prehistoric huts and a fulacht fiadh (cooking place), which features a hearth, a well and a trough in which water could be boiled by the additional of red hot stones. Take Notice of our local history, remember how far we have come, appreciate the traditions of the past while embracing the here and now.

Castlefreke Woods and Trails

Between Rathbarry and Owenahincha, Castlefreke has some great woods, trails and local beaches. Castlefreke Castle – a gothic ruin which was burnt by Cromwellian Forces in 1648 is one of Ireland’s most imposing ruins. Castlefreke woods are state owned and have a marked trail showing both a linear and a circuit walk.

Galley Head Lighthouse

Galley Head Lighthouse gives superb views over the ocean. The lighthouse was built in 1875 and it was from there that the keepers would have witnessed the tragic loss of the Lusitania in 1915. It is also claimed that Ray Bradley based his story ‘The Fog Horn’ on a reported a sighting of a giant sea serpent of Galley Head in the 1800’s.

The Wellbeing Network - The 5 Ways of Wellbeing

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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