Make me happy - 7 mood boosting activities in West Kent
As the nights draw in and days get shorter, it’s more and more important to care for our wellbeing and find activities that make us happy.
Here are 7 mood boosting activities in West Kent that are great for self-care, supporting your mental health and meeting like-minded people.
Join a choir
Singing can be such a freeing and uplifting activity especially if in a fun and supportive environment. Award-winning Rock Choir run groups for all ages and abilities in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Canterbury, Ashford and more.
Sing contemporary songs in a friendly and welcoming environment with no auditions or musical experience necessary! See their website (link below) to find your local group and more details of membership costs.
Learn to cook
Cooking (and eating!) is a wonderful, social and nourishing activity. Take a course with Kent Cookery School in Ashford or Ashdown Manna Cookery School in Blackham to hone your skills and make some delicious dishes alongside fellow foodies. Why leave all the fun to those on Bake Off?
Courses range from Vietnamese Street Food and Sushi Masterclasses right through to Break Baking and Doughnut Workshops. See their websites (link below) for more details and available dates.
Take the plunge
Wild or sea swimming holds a huge amount of benefits (physical, mental and social) if you’re brave enough to take the plunge!
The best way to safely get into wild swimming is to join a local group. Kent Sea Swimmers have groups all along the Kent coast, whilst Folkestone Sea Swimmers meet at Mermaid Bay on Saturday mornings. Open water swimming also takes place at Bewl Water.
Get your dancing shoes on
Whether you have rhythm or two left feet, dancing is another fun way of letting go and getting those endorphins pumping!
Happy Me Dance runs mood boosting dance classes in Uckfield, Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells which are guaranteed to make you sweat and smile! Founded by former Assistant Director of Dance at the BRIT School, Michelle Clark, they run classes for kids, teens and adults.
Catering for all levels and abilities, these friendly classes blend street, jazz and contemporary moves to create some fun routines. One-off classes are priced at £12, with 4 or 5 week courses also available.
Take up yoga
Yoga is a great way to build physical strength and calm the ‘monkey mind’ that often leads to anxiety. There is something very escapist and calming about immersing yourself in your practice and letting all other worries slip away for an hour or so.
I have loved attending Little Health Bunny’s classes and workshops over the past few years, as well as sessions with Flow Tunbridge Wells and Yard Yoga. They all also offer one-off workshops and retreats to offer an introduction into the practice.
Go for walks
There’s nothing like a good walk or run in nature to blow the cobwebs away and we have some beautiful spots to explore in Kent including Tunbridge Wells Common, Bedgebury Pinetum and the North Downs.
I always find a walk in the countryside helps clear my head and getting outside can do wonders for our wellbeing. Check out my blog post on Winter walks for more inspiration and ideas of where to explore in the next few months.
Get artistic
Finally, there are not many more calming and relaxing activities than pottery painting – and you get the satisfaction of going home with something unique you have created!
Manic Ceramix in Tunbridge Wells and This Art Of Mine in Maidstone both offer day and evening sessions for budding artists (or complete novices!) to come and get creative. Art Of Mind offer adult classes on Tuesday evenings and weekends, whilst Manic Ceramix offer evening painting sessions with drinks and nibbles on Thursdays. Both of these are a great, relaxing way of learning and meeting some like-minded friends.
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