The Great Big Rotherham To-Do List needs you

Cartoons of people chasing butterflies, painting and doing yoga.

Residents are being asked to share what’s helped them stay strong through the past year in a bid to inspire people to continue good habits – and discover new ways to keep healthy in mind and body.

Many of the things people found themselves making a special effort to do during the COVID-19 pandemic are the things that wellbeing experts have long known make us more resilient to stress – such as being physically active, learning something new, helping others or just pausing to reflect.

Rotherham Council will use resident’s ideas and suggestions to create The Great Big Rotherham To-Do List – a free pocket guide full of inspiration to find everyday moments of calm, interest, health and fun based on the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Rotherham Director of Public Health, Ben Anderson said: “In finding ways to cope with the upheaval of COVID-19, many people made changes that turned out to be positive and discovered an inner strength they didn’t know they had. As we all work to recover from the many effects of the pandemic it’s going to be just as important to look after our physical and mental wellbeing, so we want to help people keep those good habits going, and discover new things that make them happier and healthier too.

Rotherham Council’s Public Health Specialist for Mental Health and Loneliness Ruth Fletcher-Brown said: “COVID restrictions forced us all to do more with less and value simple pleasures. Perhaps you found the best muddy puddle walk, dusted off your roller skates, went bird watching for the first time or started sketching. Well we want to capture that list of great places to be and things to do in our borough – things that cost us nothing but our time, yet can make a big difference to how we feel.”

People can share their ideas online until 9 May 2021.

Once all the ideas have been pooled as many as possible will appear on The Great Big Rotherham To-Do List, which will be available as a fold-out planner via libraries and community groups as well as online; it will also contain information about the Five Ways to Wellbeing – simple steps that can easily be incorporated into daily life to protect physical and mental health.

Five Ways to Wellbeing is a nationally recognised, evidence-based set of actions that enhance personal wellbeing, helping individuals feel and function well; these are to be physically active, connect with others, give, keep learning and take notice of the present moment. Rotherham Council launched its version of this in May 2018 in partnership with NHS Rotherham CCG, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, and voluntary organisations. Find out more about the Five Ways to Wellbeing

 

Published: 23rd April 2021