Well, who could have missed it last week; Captain Tom Moore walking 100 laps of his garden. As incredible as he is, I’m sure that even the remarkable Captain Tom could not have expected how far this would go. After all his initial target was only £1,000, and as I write this on Monday morning, the amount raised now exceeds £26 million.
This definitely warranted a place in our end of the week “Good News” post that we are publishing every Friday on our social media channels. For those of you that don’t already follow us, why not connect with us now on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.
As the story of Captain Tom was breaking last week, I had an online meeting with a number of fellow financial planners, sharing challenges and ideas. One thing that came out of our meeting, which I wanted to share with you all, was a report published by the Centre for Well-being at the New Economics Foundation, called “Five ways to wellbeing”. You can find the full report here, but if you don’t get a chance to read it all, here’s the introduction:
“Connect…
With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Be active…
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Take notice…
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Keep learning…
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Give…
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.”
In these times, it’s so important that we focus on our well-being. Take just five minutes each day to aim to achieve one of each of these things. Consciously record it and remember to always be grateful for even the smallest things.
We hope that you continue to remain safe and healthy.
Best wishes from Nicola and the Jane Smith Financial Planning team
Production
