Pinky Promise: Taha whānau (family wellbeing)

Pinky Promise is about making pinky promises with themselves and each other to make sure they self-care and look out for one

another and their wellness, paying attention to the Māori philosophy of the four pou of Hau Ora, Hinengaro (Mental

wellbeing) Taha Wairua (spiritual wellbeing), Taha Tinana (Exercise & physical health), Taha whanau (Social wellbeing relationships and friendships).

Taha hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing)

Taha hinengaro is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts and feelings. It’s about how you feel, as well as how you communicate and think.

Taking care of taha hinengaro is important for everyone, regardless of whether or not you’ve experienced mental illness or distress.

When taha hinengaro is strong, you can better cope with life’s challenges. You can express your feelings and reach out for support from friends, whānau and hoamahi (colleagues) if you need to.

Some surprising lifestyle choices can get in the way of having healthy taha hinengaro.

For example, what you eat affects your taha hinengaro. Eating some foods can improve your mood and mental wellbeing, while other foods can have a negative impact on how you feel.

That means you can improve your taha hinengaro by making small changes to your diet. (And luckily, the same eating habits that keep you mentally well are those that support your taha tinana too.) Find out more about food and mood.

How much you move also affects your taha hinengaro. Physical activity not only appears to reduce the symptoms and frequency of depression but, better still, reduces the risk of becoming depressed at all! Read more about how physical activity affects mental health.

Drinking alcohol can lift your mood with the first glass, but too much alcohol too often can be a downer for taha hinengaro. Find out how alcohol affects your brain and mood.

Learning how to manage stress also supports taha hinengaro. Stress is your body’s natural reaction to a threat or an excess demand. Some stress is good for you and helps motivate you to get something done. But when you are under too much stress for too long, it affects your taha hinengaro. Learning how to manage stress is a key life skill. Find out more about managing stress in your life generally and managing stress at work.

What small step would you like to take to improve your taha hinengaro?