Believe it or not, the skills that it takes for us to master our own wellbeing are not necessarily inherent. Sometimes, it can take a lot of learning before we can shift our negative mindsets, grow in self-confidence and learn tools to help us cope with stressful situations that life can bring. Wellbeing courses can teach us all of these things and more, which allows us to navigate through life with a healthy and balanced approach.
What is a wellbeing course?
As wellbeing is such a broad topic, wellbeing courses are designed to benefit you in a variety of ways. In these courses, you'll be able to learn skills, techniques, and methods that will enrich your life in some way. Whether it's dealing with stress, learning to connect with your body in yoga classes, or empowering your sense of self through new attitudes, there's a course for all scenarios.
Where can I access the best wellbeing courses?
There are many courses to take your pick from, both online and in person. Some will be free, while some will come with a cost, which may also depend on the duration. A course can last anywhere from a full day to weeks or months. Of course, it's best to choose one that you can fully commit to whether it's online or in person, whichever works best for you.
Local colleges, universities, and organisations around you can also be excellent providers. It's worth checking in every once in a while to see what types of courses they're running. Although some of these might be geared towards career progression, there will be some for personal development, too.
In terms of online courses, these are fantastic options if you may find it difficult to access a course in person. Whether it's mindfulness, health and fitness, nutrition, or personal development, there are many categories for you to browse from. Here are just a few of our favourite online course providers.
FutureLearn
Udemy
OneEducation
So, why not take a look at the best wellbeing courses? They'll help you regain a sense of control, manage your stress levels and learn new skills. There are in-person wellness retreats, as well as an endless variety of online classes that are sure to help improve your overall wellbeing.
The best wellbeing courses
Best wellbeing course for peak performance
www.futurelearn.com
Learn mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and improve your wellbeing in this online course by Monash University. For one month you'll sign up to three hours of classes per week which deliver techniques that allow you to identify causes for stress in your life and how to manage them. At the end of the course, you'll even receive a certificate of completion.
Review: "I found this course extremely valuable. I now have some skills, which I need to keep on practising, which are so helpful. Also, I found the course very enjoyable."
Best science-based wellbeing course about the mind
www.udemy.com
A science-based course about using the power of your mind to heal your body and maximise your intuition, it teaches you how to optimise your physical and emotional health. For six weeks, you'll receive resources and videos to help you learn all about the fascinating subject of the mind. It's recommended that you have a knowledge of biology for this course, as it takes an in-depth look at scientific methods of healing.
Review: "An excellent guide about staying mindful by using the mind to heal. The instructor explained each topic very well and I'm about to start my meditation journey to relaxation and mindfulness. Great job, Dr. Holden!"
Best wellbeing course for mindfulness
www.futurelearn.com
Learn how to apply mindfulness techniques so that you can improve your communication, relationships, and emotional health. For a course that runs for the duration of a month, you'll have three hours of classes and receive a certificate upon completion. By the end of the course, you'll be able to apply all of the mindfulness techniques to all of the different areas of your life.
Review: "The course was outstanding. It was a great help for understanding mindfulness on a deeper level. I enjoyed every bit of it and looking forward to diving deeper into this topic in the future. Thank you so much."
Best wellbeing course for breathwork techniques
www.udemy.com
Tap into the power of your breath and develop health, happiness, and inner richness. A complete breathwork course that teaches you to use your breathing to relax, focus and bring health and vitality to your life. With hours of video, articles, and a certificate on completion, this course will teach you the fundamentals of relaxing your body and mind.
Review: "I love this course, excellent tools to start the path to know your inner self and the power of breathing."
Best wellbeing course for CBT techniques
www.udemy.com
CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an innovative and effective approach to psychotherapy that has helped millions of people around the world manage and overcome a wide range of issues related to unwanted thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. If you've ever struggled with depression or anxiety, you aren't alone. This wellbeing course will offer you the support you need while teaching you how to navigate these thoughts and feelings.
Review: "I enjoyed the course and received a lot of skills on depression and anxiety. These techniques will help me cope when facing depression."
Best wellbeing course for positive thinking
www.udemy.com
This course is meant for people searching for more in their lives and just want to know what works. If you have any interest in leading a more fulfilled life using the insights of positive psychology, this is the course for you. The course covers eight sections and over thirty lectures, you'll gain an insight into how to lead a life that fulfills you.
Review: "A great introductory course for anyone who wants to learn about social psychology, or if you would like some helpful tips and pointers about how to incorporate positive changes in your life! Andrew is a wonderful instructor and breaks down all of the topics into bite-size pieces so you will not feel overwhelmed."
Best wellbeing course for a balanced lifestyle
www.futurelearn.com
Do digital technologies affect our wellbeing? Explore the concepts of health, relationships, and society in the digital age. With so much emphasis on expressing and living up to our identities online, it can cause an imbalance within our lives. This three-week course will teach you how to strike a healthy balance with your online identities.
Review: "A comprehensive overview of the topic, with many valuable reflections and interesting references. Definitely worth the learning journey."
Best wellbeing course for aspiring yoga teachers
www.oneeducation.org.uk
Through this Online Yoga and Meditation Training Course, you will get a strong foundation for yoga philosophy and practice. You will learn how to practice yoga on the mat as well as in your everyday life. Whether you’re an existing practitioner or an aspiring professional, you'll learn all of the skills needed to become a knowledgeable Yoga Teacher and qualify with a Level 3 diploma certificate.
Review: "Great customer service, very helpful, answered all questions. Great courses and cheap prices."
Best wellbeing course for those in health and social
www.futurelearn.com
Working in the health and social care sector often means putting our own needs aside to care for those who need it most. If you're in this line of work, this course can teach you practical self-care exercises to manage stress and improve your wellbeing over a three-week period, so you can better care for others effectively.
Review: "An excellent course from an inspiring team, with exercises that really help you distress and improve your mental and physical health."
Best wellbeing course with wellness retreat
www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk
Wanting to get away from it all? Warner Leisure Hotels offer wellness retreat breaks all over the country where you can learn to prioritise your wellbeing against breathtaking backdrops. They champion day-to-night wellness workshops, seminars, and classes, including yoga and meditation with expert tuition. An all-encompassing reset for mind, body, and soul.
Best wellbeing course with annual subscription
www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk
Embark on a journey to a happier, healthier you with one year’s subscription to Whitecalm’s online all-round wellbeing sessions. With over a hundred sessions live-streamed each month from five studios and more available on demand, join a variety of classes from a range of themes including meditation and mindfulness, fitness, nutrition, and health coaching.
Best wellbeing course about nutrition
www.futurelearn.com
Demystify the complex world of nutrition, health, and wellbeing, and discover how to apply nutrition concepts to your own diet. Over the month, you'll learn how to identify and describe principles of healthy eating and develop an understanding of good examples of evidence-based research.
Review: "Great course, very informative into nutrition and how food can effect your health, I would highly recommend this course."
Best wellbeing course for stress management
www.oneeducation.org.uk
In this Stress Management Training Course, you will learn the steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. You will discover stress-reducing activities you can do at home, and explore plenty of stress management tips that can help you keep stress and anxiety at bay.
Review: "Fantastic course every module explained would definitely use them again."
Why is wellbeing so important?
Looking after our wellbeing means we’re able to have healthy interactions with the world around us. It’s being able to live as our best selves or most authentic selves. It allows us to hold space for things that are truly important to us, whether that's maintaining our friendships, advancing in our careers, or enjoying our hobbies.
Wellbeing encompasses our fundamental needs, meaning that we're healthy in our mind, body, and spirit. If we're not looking after our wellbeing, this can throw our lives out of balance. This can go on to cause issues with our health, relationships, and even with ourselves.
Everyone looks at wellbeing differently. For some, it may involve yoga sessions or practicing meditation. Others may enjoy going for mindful walks, while some may prefer to stay at home and write in their journal. It's all relative to what makes us feel most like ourselves.
Samantha Price is a contributing Commercial Content Writer at Spirit & Destiny. She's currently part of the Fashion, & Beauty team, covering content on fashion, beauty and wellness.