Extraordinary, unusual and adventurous trips

Extraordinary, unusual and adventurous trips are a way that Justlife helps people improve mental wellbeing.Over the past few weeks we have been: to study personal histories in an archive, to watch a film at the cinema, for a picturesque walk in the pennines, on a photography expedition in a country park and to fling ourselves around the high ropes at Go Ape.This week, Brighton's "Tuesday Trips with Tom" took a group of 7 service users to the cinema to see 'Inside out' a fabulous Disney/Pixar movie about a young girl (and the emotions inside her head). It was a great opportunity to learn some healthy lessons about different feelings and how we deal with them. The Manchester team recently took a trip to a high ropes course called "Go Ape"... this was a lot of fun, and definitely forced the group to work together, encourage each other and helped people to do things that they did not think were possible!The five ways to mental wellbeing are: Connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. By reading the descriptions below you will be able to see how the trips that we organise with our service users really do make a difference to mental wellbeing.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.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.