5 Ways to Wellbeing: Connect

We feel happier when we connect with people – a quick hello to colleagues before our busy day, time with friends, mindful time with loved ones when we are truly present and not distracted by phones and our thoughts about work. We naturally feel better when we connect and become involved with others.

Evidence shows connecting with others and feeling valued by other people is a basic human need that contributes to our sense of wellbeing. Investing time into nurturing relationships with family and friends and our wider relationships in our community is a key component of wellbeing.

Did you know close relationships can add up to seven years to your life? That’s the same benefit as giving up smoking!

Discover Ideas For Connecting

Speak to someone instead of sending an email
Make a point of asking a colleague about their family or weekend
Smile or say hello to five people
Have a coffee or lunch with a colleague
Spend time mindfully with a loved one when they have your full attention away from TV and smartphones. Perhaps set 30 minutes aside when you give someone close to you your undivided attention to talk or do an activity together. Suggestions could include doing a jigsaw or playing a board game.
Phone a friend rather than text or using social media to connect.
Give someone a present just because…
Write a letter or send a postcard
Put your phone away in a drawer for an hour or two in the evening
Meet Up is a website that allows you to connect and meet up with others locally according to your interests.

Facebook Groups

Tea and Empathy: This is a national, informal, peer-to-peer support network aiming to foster a compassionate and supportive atmosphere throughout the NHS. Members can support each other by one to one private messaging or by posting on the page, anonymously via admin if preferred. Please note that this is an OPEN group, there are closed local groups which include a list of volunteers that can act as an experienced private ‘first contact’ in their region. The East Midland group is here. Tea and Empathy has a number of associated groups accessed by request: – Support for Newly Appointed Consultants – Support for Medical Students – Relaxing Book Club for Book Lovers
Tikos GP group: A closed facebook group for clinical questions. Members are motivated to share valuable information with each other, invite new colleagues, make new friends and find out about new opportunities. To join, email tikosgpgroup@gmail.com and follow the instructions on the email that is sent. (Please check spam folders if you don’t see a reply in 24hrs.)
Resilient GP: A closed Facebook group of nearly 10,000 members aiming to build resilience in members of the primary care team.
GP and Human Support Group on Facebook: A closed group where GPs can support each other in times of psychological need. Primarily Just for GPs.
GP Survival is a grassroots organisation to act as a campaign and pressure group to fight for the interests of GPs, be they salaried, locum, or partner, in UK General Practice.
Recalibrate – resilience support: Resilience blog and Facebook page by Dr Serena Haywood – a Consultant neurodevelopmental paediatrician and Doctor Supporter with the BMA.
The Wellbeing GP: Nottinghamshire LMC wellbeing lead Dr Helen Garr’s Facebook page sharing wellbeing and health tips.
GP Detox: Closed Facebook group. A place for sharing what helps make us GPs feel human again. Leave the negative stuff behind. Explore what’s good in life.

Instagram

The Couch via doctors.net: You need to register with them first – there is a forum where you can post sensitive issues and they have a list of volunteer doctors that are happy to help.
The Wellbeing GP: Nottinghamshire LMC wellbeing lead Dr Helen Garr health and fitness tips to promote wellbeing
Emergency medicine doctor: Raising awareness of the importance of wellbeing in the medical industry
The Nutrition Medic
Dr Ahmed Kazmi: Dr Kazmi is GP and comedian. He shares health tips and iPhone photos and is an advocate for mental wellbeing.
The Running Medic: Manchester doctor hoping to inspire others to move more and eat better
The Mindful Medic: “Healthy mind, healthy body, healthy life”.
Yoga with Dr Lyanh

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