Welfy

16/05/2025

I am ending this sunny mental health awareness week at a gorgeous independent garden centre and cafe in Moseley called

Today I've been talking to owner, Niamh, about her mental health and how she's learned to let each day go, with a cup of tea and some time to herself to relax.

It's a practice which keeps her settled and sane and helps her to remember that tomorrow is a new day.

Some solitude and a cuppa sounds like a beautiful daily practice for the end of each day. And there's science to support it:

☕️ The ritual of making and drinking tea can be a calming and soothing experience, helping to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress

🍵 L-theanine, an amino acid, found almost exclusively in tea, has been shown to increase alpha brain waves, which are associated with a state of wakeful relaxation.

🫖 Research suggests that regular tea drinkers may have a lower risk of depression.

Does a relaxing cuppa at the end of the day help you to let the events of the day go and find some calm? 👍🏼

I'm so grateful to everyone in my community that has spoken to me about their mental health this week, and shared ways in which they protect theirs.

It's been enlightening, insightful, connecting and reminds me that I'm damn lucky to live in such a wonderful place.

I encourage you to make time and space to lean into your community, you'll be stunned at how good it can make you feel 💚

15/05/2025

This I'm sharing some of my local area and connecting with people to discover how they protect their mental health.

This year the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is community, and focuses on the importance of social connections and community support for mental health and wellbeing.

Today I have been speaking to Anthony from my local family run and award winning farm shop and café, .

Anthony told me that he turns to music when he needs to destress, he puts a (real vinyl!) record on and tunes out of the day, shifts his mood and often dances with his son 🕺

Sometimes he combines music with walking in nature and walks his energetic spaniel whilst listening to music - Fleetwood Mac, The Smiths and Kate Bush are favourites.

I share Anthony's love of music and somewhat bizarrely we both have a cat named after our icon Bowie! Our hunch that listening to music is great for our mental health is correct...

🎶 Studies have shown that music can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by releasing dopamine, regulating mood, and providing a sense of calm.

🎼Listening to music together can create a sense of community and shared experience.

🎹 Studies have shown that music can lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and decrease heart rate and blood pressure.

Watch out for where Welfy will be in the community tomorrow 👀

Does listening or dancing to music positively impact your mental health too?

💚

14/05/2025

This I'm sharing some of my local area and connecting with people to discover how they protect their mental health.

This year the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is community, and focuses on the importance of social connections and community support for mental health and wellbeing.

Today I have been speaking to Abi from my local bookshop, , who have just won Indie Bookshop of the Year no less 🏆 !

Abi told me that when she's tired from a long day, she escapes into a good book. She is able to forget all about what's going on, the mind goes quiet and she enters another world - connecting with characters and their unique stories.

She also attends and sometimes chairs the shop's amazing monthly bookclub and finds that connecting with others over stories is a great way to increase energy and feel good.

I share Abi's love of fiction and love the novelty and sense of community of The Heath's monthly Bookclub. Our hunch that it's great for our mental health is correct...

📕 Studies suggest that reading fiction can reduce stress, boost focus, and enhance empathy.

📕 Fiction can also provide a temporary escape from worries and allow for reflection, potentially mitigating symptoms of depression and anxiety.

📕 Reading can serve as a form of bibliotherapy, offering a way to process emotions, gain insight into personal experiences, and develop coping mechanisms.

Watch out for Welfy will be in the community tomorrow 👀

Does reading fiction positively impact your mental health?

💚

13/05/2025

This is Stacy and Max the parrot from KINGS HEATH PET CENTRE LIMITED and this is how Stacy protects her mental health...

By cuddling four legged friends.

This when the theme is community, she told me she has a frenchie at home called Scrappy for cuddles on tap.

And when she's at work, if she ever feels anxious or like it's all too much, she takes herself out the back where they usually have some rabbits that they're settling in or nursing back to health, and gives one of them a hug until she feels calm again.

Stacy has the best job in the world! She is surrounded by four legged friends to make her feel safe and well.

🐱Being around animals, especially pets like cats, dogs and rabbits, can significantly benefit mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and loneliness, and increasing overall well-being.

🐰 These benefits include the release of feel-good hormones such as oxytocin and a sense of companionship.

🐶 Some research suggests that pet ownership may be linked to better cognition, including improved processing speed, attention, and memory.

Stacy I'm so with you on this one, hugging my dog and cats is like a medicine that cannot be bottled. It comforts me on the worst days and seems to act like a forcefield around my mental health every other day.

Does it resonate with you? 👍🏼

Watch out for where Welfy will be in the community tomorrow! 👀

12/05/2025

23/09/2024

Missy Pig in her dashing new bandana courtesy of

25/04/2024

Did you know that all of this happens when we wander...? 🚶‍♂️🚶

I think the physical health benefits of walking regularly are pretty well understood:
🧑‍⚕️We improve our heart and lung health
🧑‍⚕️Reduce risk of heart disease and stroke
🧑‍⚕️Stronger bones
🧑‍⚕️Improved balance
🧑‍⚕️Increased muscle strength and endurance
🧑‍⚕️Reduced body fat
I could go on...

But how well understood are the mental health benefits of a brisk, blood pumping, hormone releasing wander in nature?:
🧠Increased mental alertness
🧠Heightened energy and positive mood
🧠Increased self esteem
🧠Reduced stress and anxiety
🧠Improved cognitive function
🧠Enhanced memory and problem solving

If you've lost your lockdown walking habit, now is the time to bring it back.

Join me and 50 others so far(!) at 12:30 tomorrow for the inaugural Welfy Wander.

A 30 minute LinkedIn Audio event for you to take a proper break, get outside and reap all of these wonderful benefits. Not to mention how much more productive you'll feel after a screen free pause.

Sign up now and remember your earphones tomorrow 🎧

Who's with me? 👍🏼

https://lnkd.in/en-aw2Xv

21/04/2024

Are you on LinkedIn? Search for The Welfy Wander in events and join me for some peace next Friday! 🚶‍♀️ 🚶‍♂️ 🌳 ☀️ This LinkedIn audio event is for people to come together for 30 minutes around lunchtime to do NOTHING.

🚫There will be no training.
🚫No sharing of knowledge.
🚫No coaching.
🚫No powerful questions.
🚫No tips, no tools, no techniques.
🚫No frameworks or models.
🚫No five things you must do now.
🚫No meditation.
🚫No breathwork.
🚫Nothing to put on your CV.

Just nothing. Together. Ideally whilst walking in nature 🌳 🌲 ☀️

Because in my five years of running Welfy I have come to realise that this is what people need most of all.

To pause. To be present. To check in with yourself. To be human. And to disconnect from the distractions for a while. Without the pressure of meditating or stressing about your monkey mind.

If you want to avoid burnout, and find some peace this year, I truly believe this is a positive step.

But we almost all need some accountability. Someone breathing down our necks to make us do these things that are ever so slightly uncomfortable.

So I promise to guide you, to set us up, and check in every now and then throughout the 30 minutes. Join me and let's see how it goes 👍🏼

20/04/2024

Good luck finding somewhere more peaceful and magical in Wales. This place is a dream. Homemade vegan food, mostly picked or foraged from the land, a ridiculously charming 18thc cottage, a hot tub and THAT view. Robin is a wonderful host and has even made my meals oil free. Cannot recommend highly enough 🙏☀️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

07/09/2023

Calling all legume lovers!! 🫘

If you love houmous as much as we do, look no further.
kitchen jalapeño houmous is THE BEST.

I buy a lot of houmous. I make a lot of houmous. I eat a lot of houmous. And I discovered this brand this summer and in my humble opinion, Ramona, you’ve nailed it.

We salute you 🫡

🌱

31/05/2023

Just me casually walking down to the sea with my wetsuit 🏊‍♀️

I committed to doing a sea swim every day of my week long holiday. Because, you know, it’s good for the noggin.

I can’t lie, it’s COLD 🥶 But when it looks like this, it hasn’t been hard to stick to.

I’m 5 days in and this is what I’ve learned:

1. I can be brave
2. Those happy hormone rushes are REAL
3. I’ve made other healthier choices as a result
4. The impact on my sleep has been amazing
5. It’s given me more patience with my family (guess that’s something clever to do with emotional regulation)
6. There is no elegant way to get a wetsuit off
7. Contact lenses and sea water are not friends

Does anyone know where I am?

Clue: it’s in the UK. Can. You. Believe. It?!

23/03/2023

BANGING lunch at on Warren St today.

If you’re in the area and between meetings, like we were, we highly recommend it.

Amazing plant based options, very reasonable prices for London and stunning food.