Continuing this month with our ‘everyday happiness’ theme, how did you do with your small resolutions? Were there any ‘putting yourself in someone else’s shoes’ type of thoughts? Thinking about other people around us can start with family and friends and may branch out to the girls in your unit, your fellow volunteers locally and those who support your volunteering.
Maybe you spend a lot of time taking others into consideration. Balancing that by taking yourself into account is the challenge. So how do we keep an eye out for the younger people around us? Volunteering in Girlguiding means you are passionate about helping young people to find their potential and grow. One of the areas you take care of is, of course, your girls’ health and wellbeing. There are some great tips on the Young Minds website.
There’s a useful list of tips from the ‘Better Health, every-mind-matters section’ on the NHS website to support children and young people including:
- Be there to listen
- Stay involved in their life
- Take what they say seriously
- Support them through difficulties
- Encourage their interests
- Build positive routines
You can read more here: nhs.uk/every-mind-matters
Some of these remind us of the Girlguiding values.
And what about those people further afield? World Thinking Day has just happened and at this time we think about all those involved in Guiding across the world.
Stepping into others’ shoes as we consider the international aspect of Girlguiding.
If you missed it read the first blog in the series here.
Welcome to our series on wellbeing, a place to find inspiration on leader care; tips on keeping well, links to useful information and signposts to a happier 2022!
So how do we find the contentment that we associate with feeling happier? We could start with our self-care routine; healthy volunteers influence those around them in a positive way. Taking care of ourselves is for everyone in Girlguiding too; check out this piece from a young member of Girlguiding, Hanna, with her thoughtful idea that everyone has their own definition of wellbeing:
If you are into resolutions at this time of year how about starting with small, achievable goals from last month; these could build up to being realistic resolutions to start some time in February. You could use some of the following to start the ball rolling:
- Make time to do something kind for yourself today
- Go to bed in good time and allow yourself to recharge
- Challenge your negative thoughts and look for the upside
- Get outside and notice things that are beautiful
- Look for the good in others and notice their strengths
- Eat healthy food which really nourishes (see recipe below)
- Write down your hopes and plans for the near future
And here’s a healthy, ‘banish the winter blues’ recipe to try: