Reminding yourself to ‘take notice’ can strengthen and broaden awareness.

Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm your life priorities.

Heightened awareness also enhances your self-understanding and allows you to make positive choices based on your own values and motivations.

Take some time to enjoy the moment and the environment around you. Here are a few ideas:

• Get a plant for your workspace or home
• Have a ‘clear the clutter’ day
• Take notice of how your colleagues are feeling or acting
• Notice the changing seasons while out exercising

A lot of us live our lives focussed on the future or on things that have happened in the past. We often miss out on what’s happening right now, all around us.

It is a hard skill to master, but spending some time, each day, to notice the world around you can have a tremendous impact on our mental health and wellbeing.

There are loads of things you can do. Next time you go out, try and notice something you haven’t seen before. It could be a flower, an old building or the changing weather. Anything which keeps you in the present moment.

John- Recovery Worker