The Easter holidays are the perfect time for adventures, laughter and enjoyable activities with the whole family. But as April is also Stress Awareness Month, there is no better time than now to refocus on your health and wellbeing. Doing mindfulness, physical and communication exercises as a family is a great way to support your mental health. Here are some ideas for health and wellbeing activities you can do over the Easter break.

Connect

Over Easter keep in touch with your family or friends, spend time together by inviting them over, going for a walk or playing games together. Perhaps you could give someone a call to check they’re ok and reminisce over old memories. Start a group chat so you can send messages daily to see what everyone has planned over the holidays. By connecting with others, you can reduce feelings of loneliness – include other people in your activities so you’re supporting the wellbeing of your friends and family too.

Be Active

The Easter break gives you plenty of time to do various physical activities as a family, such as walking, dancing, jogging and ball games. Getting active outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air not only increases your Vitamin D levels but generally makes you feel better - improving your physical and emotional wellbeing. The level of exercise you choose is up to you and your family’s capability, it could be playing hide and seek, completing jobs around the house or something more intense like circuit training.

Stay Mindful

During the Easter break, you should try spending time outdoors every day to get the Vitamin D you need. Observing nature will help you reconnect with yourself and your surroundings, tree hugging is a great exercise for mindfulness. Breathing practices can make you feel calmer, taking the time to inhale and exhale slowly can reduce levels of stress and anxiety. Garden yoga is a great way to meditate and exercise; pets can also be included – the choice is yours.

Keep Learning

Choosing a new hobby as a family can be easier, as you’re able to support one another at their own pace. It can be a great way to get the gardening done quicker, share the responsibilities as family. Perhaps you want to learn how to cook or bake because you want to be more in control of the food you are eating. Learning new skills, facts and hobbies that are fun can boost your self-esteem and self-confidence whilst giving you a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

Give

Spending time helping others can give you a boost - but taking time for yourself can too. During the Easter break you could help someone with a job, call a relative to check they are doing ok, or just give the person close to you a hug. Not only will giving to others benefit them but it will benefit you too.

Personalising your own health and wellbeing activities can be more engaging and enjoyable for the whole family while being cost effective. So, be creative, playful, and use your imagination to reconnect with the outdoors, and as a result you will reduce stress levels, improve your concentration and focus, improve moods, sleep better and worry less.

If you are looking for Easter related activities this April or just want to have a family fun day out in nature, then Dorset has a lot to offer. During the Easter break you can experience nature trails at Durlston country park, adventures at Studland bay, egg hunts at Kingston Lacy and more: Easter Events In Dorset 2022 - Exploring Dorset