Physical health

Our physical health can have a big impact on how we feel emotionally and mentally, but it’s not always easy to maintain healthy patterns of behaviour.

Our physical health can have a big impact on how we feel emotionally and mentally, but it’s not always easy to maintain healthy patterns of behaviour. It’s worth remembering that every small step is a step in the right direction. Sometimes lots of small changes add up to more than one big change that we don’t manage to keep up. But if you’re ready for a big change there’s lots of information here too for that.

Everyday routines are important: drinking enough water, eating as healthy as possible, regular exercise and trying to avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs. It’s easy to forget or not prioritise caring for ourselves, but just choosing one or two ideas can make a big change in how we feel over time.

Exercise

At-home exercise classes

The Trust’s Active Against Cancer service has produced a comprehensive at-home exercise diary and online exercise classes (see links below). As well as benefiting cancer patients, these simple exercises can have health benefits for every one. So why not give it a go?

Other exercise resources and support

Fit4TheFight: A free online fitness hub dedicated to NHS staff with classes ranging from yoga and pilates to family sessions and high intensity workouts.

SportEngland Join the Movement: Easy tips, advice and guidance for everyone on how to keep or get active in and around your home.

NHS Get Active Tips and advice about things you can do to keep moving including home workout videos, the Couch to 5k beginners’ running app and Active 10 walking tracker app.

This Girl Can:  Inspirational campaign to help all women to get active in whatever way works for them.

Resurrection Bikes: A Harrogate-based volunteer run charity recycling and selling fully refurbished used bicycles.

Cycle City Connect: A Leeds-based organisation working to help more people travel by bike or by foot.

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

Offer for staff working in the NHS

  • Free, online access to a 12-week weight management programme.
  • Personally tailored to support your journey to a healthier lifestyle

Keeping healthy and active can be hard. But, this digital programme can help you make those small changes, one step at a time.

For more information and to join today visit

www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/digital-weight-management-programme-for-nhs-staff

Alcohol

Dry January: The UK wide one-month alcohol-free challenge. 6.5 million people took part in 2021.

Drink Aware: provides the facts, tools, advice and support to check, track or reduce your drinking.

NHS Drink Less: includes the Drink Free Days app and other help and support to change your drinking habits for good.

Drinkline offers a free confidential helpline for anyone who is concerned about their drinking or someone else’s. Helpline 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am-8om, weekends 11am-4pm)

Smoking

NHS Quit Smoking: this site provides links to information and support including the NHS smokefree app, your personal quit plan and local stop smoking services.

Quitting smoking can be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your physical health – even having a positive impact on your mental and financial wellbeing, and protecting those around you by reducing exposure. Smoking can also be one of the hardest habits to give up but you don’t have to do it on your own; you can get free support from your local stop smoking service and access many self-help quitting tools. You can also help patients and colleagues to stop smoking by becoming a #teamHDFT Smoking Cessation Champion.

Self-help quitting tools & Campaigns

Tools Campaigns
NHS Smokefree app Stoptober
Personal quit plan No smoking day
Take care of your mind Your Health
Quit smoking calculator Breathe2025
Stop smoking aids Fresh – Making smoking history
Cancer Research – How do I stop smoking?
Smoke-free pregnancy
Sign up for daily email support
Follow NHS Smokefree on Facebook
Quit Smoking Support Facebook Group
HDFT Smoking Cessation Campaign

Local stop smoking services

Smoking Cessation Champion

If you are interested in becoming a #teamHDFT Smoking Cessation Champion, helping patients and colleagues to stop smoking, you can access free Very Brief Advice (VBA) training. You will also receive a certificate, badge, lanyard and access to a stock of ‘Quit Kits’ to hand out when you give VBA. Please get in touch to book: phone: 01423 553475 or email: [email protected].

Eating better

Eat better: This site is full of easy ways to eat better every day and includes the free Easy meals app.

Sleep

Sleep is essential to our bodies and brains and our mental and physical wellbeing can be affected if we don’t get the sleep we need. Feeling anxious or worried can also make it harder to get a good night’s sleep.

The Every Mind Matters sleep page provides practical advice on how to improve your sleep with top tips and videos on how to get more rest.

Sleepstation is a clinically validated sleep improvement programme available on the NHS. You can sign up online or discuss it with your GP.

The Sleep Council aims to raise awareness about the important of a good night’s sleep and to help everyone improve their sleep for good through their sleep advice, sleep tools and 30 Day Better Sleep Plan.

Sleeping Well Your Covid Recovery has advice for people whose sleep has been affected by Covid-19, including advice for managing bad or distressing dreams.

MSK

Colleagues can access free physiotherapy advice and treatment via our Occupational Health service. If you have a joint, muscle or spinal problem which is preventing you from performing your normal duties you can contact your manager for referral to Occupational Health to access this service. Treatment is fully funded (appointments have a 24 hour cancellation policy).