Small steps, stronger minds: five ways to build wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week

From a short walk outside to a new recipe or a chat with a friend, residents are encouraged to take small actions that build resilience for when life presents its challenges.

Reading Borough Council is encouraging residents to use Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from 11 to 17 May 2026, to start small. Learning about wellbeing is for everyone, not just people facing challenges and the strongest foundations are built before you need them.

Small habits build over time. They make us more resilient when life gets hard. A lunchtime routine, a new skill or a simple conversation can all help to grow your sense of wellbeing.

There is a community of support in Reading ready to help residents build their emotional skills. The council commissions Compass Recovery College, a free, local mental health and wellbeing service designed around the people who use it. Whether you want to understand your own mind better, build new habits or simply feel less alone, support is on your doorstep.

Director of Public Health at Reading Borough Council, Dr Matthew Pearce said: “Wellbeing is something we can all build, in small ways, every day. Looking after our mental health is not something we do only when things get tough. It is the routines, the conversations and the time outdoors that quietly build us up. Compass Recovery College is a brilliant resource for our residents, and Mental Health Awareness Week is a great moment to take that first step.”

Five small steps for stronger mental health

Each of these takes less than half an hour. Done regularly, they build the foundations that protect your wellbeing when life gets hard.

1. Go outside for twenty minutes - Daylight helps regulate your sleep, fresh air clears your head and gentle movement lowers stress. A short walk at lunchtime, even in your local park, can lift your mood for the rest of the day.
2. Learn a new recipe - Cooking something different gives you focus, a small sense of achievement and something nourishing to enjoy or share. It is a simple act of self-care that quickly turns into a habit.
3. Speak to a friend - Loneliness has a real impact on mental health. A five-minute call or message to check in on someone lifts your mood, strengthens your support network and reminds you that you are not alone.
4. Volunteer in your community - Helping others creates a sense of purpose, brings you into contact with new people and boosts your own self-esteem. Even an hour a month can make a real difference, to you and to those you help.
5. Notice the present moment - Pausing to notice your breath, the sounds around you or the taste of your tea can break anxious thought patterns. Practised regularly, this kind of mindfulness builds calm and emotional resilience.

Compass Recovery College helps Reading residents turn small steps like these into lasting habits. Its workshops, drop-ins and creative sessions support people to build new routines, develop new skills and feel less alone. Whether you are trying something for the first time or building on what you already do, the team is there to help you keep going.

The Compass team are running a set of sessions during Mental Health Awareness Week and beyond. Find out more or book a place by visiting their website https://www.compassrecoverycollege.uk/, calling 01189 373 945 or emailing compass.opportunities@reading.gov.uk.