Creating a Wellbeing Plan
A wellbeing plan is a short personal reminder of what helps you stay reasonably well and what to do when things start becoming harder.
A wellbeing plan is a short personal reminder of what helps you stay reasonably well and what to do when things start becoming harder.
It does not need to be complicated. A useful plan is one you can actually find and use.
Start with what helps when things are going well
Write down the ordinary habits that support you: sleep, movement, meals, contact with people, time outside, hobbies, routine or quiet time.
Make the list personal. Do not include activities simply because you think they ought to help.
Identify your early warning signs
Think about what changes first when you are under too much pressure.
You might sleep badly, cancel plans, become irritable, stop exercising, avoid paperwork, overwork or notice particular negative thoughts.
Write down your first responses
Match each warning sign with a realistic action.
If sleep starts slipping, you might restart your bedtime routine. If you withdraw, you might contact one person. If work begins taking over, you might review priorities with your manager.
Include practical problems
Wellbeing is not separate from everyday life.
If money, caring, housing, work or a relationship is creating the pressure, include the practical support you would use rather than relying only on relaxation techniques.
Add your support network
Write down people and services you could contact: a friend, relative, GP, counsellor, manager, carer service or specialist adviser depending on the problem.
It is easier to use support when you have already thought about where it might come from.
Keep the plan accessible
A note on your phone, a page in a notebook or a card in a drawer can be enough.
Review it every so often. A plan written two years ago may not reflect your current life.
Use it early
The plan is most useful before you reach the point where everything feels unmanageable.
Regular check-ins can help you notice small changes and respond sooner.
11.12: Mental Wellbeing Check-In
2.10: Creating a Simple Stress Action Plan
3.7: Getting Back Into a Routine
General information only. This is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional healthcare advice.