Cooking and creativity to lift my spirits

I’m a 23-year-old female living in Cardiff.

Why is looking after your mental wellbeing important to you?

When I look after my mental wellbeing, I am more likely to live a happier and more meaningful day-to-day life.

What do you do to protect and improve your mental wellbeing?

Being active and creative protects and improves my mental wellbeing. I enjoy cooking dinner and finding new recipes and foods to try – I try to make this time of my day a ‘fun activity’ rather than a ‘chore’. I get a feeling of self-accomplishment and pride when I have cooked a tasty meal.

I like to find new places to walk and explore – most recently, I have been enjoying walking around Penarth, through the gardens or listening to the sea. I call a friend for a chat or listen to some music or a podcast whilst walking (plus, it doesn’t cost any money to walk!). Walking always helps my mental wellbeing.

In the last year, I’ve also started painting on small canvases and placing them around my home, and this has helped my mental wellbeing. I get to be creative and get a feeling of accomplishment.

Anything else you’d like to share?

“What if it turns out better than you could imagine?”