Active August

Active August is a popular initiative that aims to motivate people to either get active, boost activity or stay active, and helps shine the spotlight on a key Act Belong Commit message; Act – Do Something, and the associated mental health benefits.

It’s important for people to understand that being active is not just about being physically active. Active August seeks to highlight all the different ways people can be active for their mental health and wellbeing. This includes being mentally, physically, socially, spiritually and culturally active.

Visit ‘How do I keep mentally healthy’ for more evidence-based information on the benefits of being active.

Tips for getting involved

If you need further inspiration to keep active or you want to find something in your local area, check out our Activity Finder.

If you’re on social media, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll be posting updates about ways to be active this August!

We’d also love to see photos and stories of how you bring Act Belong Commit to life in your everyday – be sure to tag us @actbelongcommit and use the Active August hashtags:

#ActiveAugust #ActBelongCommit

31-day calendar of ideas

The calendar provides ideas for keeping active, with a different theme for each day of the week, aiming to inspire you to try something new!

31-day blank calendar (editable)

If you’d like to fill out the calendar with your own ideas, there is also a blank version. This is an editable PDF. Simply type into the boxes and save.

More information about the themed days

Each day of the week has a theme to cover the various ways of being active. The themes are:

• Mentally active Monday: Just as our body performs better when we are physically fit, so too does our mind when we are mentally fit. Learning something new, or achieving something mentally (e.g. solving a puzzle) contributes to feelings of self-confidence and belief in one’s abilities.
• Try something Tuesday: Try something new this Tuesday! Give something new a go! Learning a new skill and meeting people with similar interests can feel really rewarding.
• Walk it out Wednesday: Walking is a great way to keep physically fit. Look for opportunities in your daily life where you can increase your steps.
• Think culturally Thursday: Connecting to culture can increase feelings of belonging, and learning about other cultures can increase inclusion and empathy. Keeping connected to your culture can provide social and emotional wellbeing benefits.
• Physical Friday: Finding ways to regularly keep active (the national guidelines recommend adults are active most days) that work for your body and lifestyle means that you are more likely to regularly exercise and reap the benefits from it!
• Social Saturday: Being socially active and connecting with others is not only enjoyable but also provides us with a support base when we need it. Sharing the good times and being supported in the not-so-good times is what friendships are all about. Getting together with friends or family and doing it regularly can increase your mental wellbeing.
• Spiritual Sunday: While the term spirituality means different things to different people, engaging in some form of spiritual activity contributes to mental wellbeing. There are many ways to express spirituality in non-religious ways, such as spending time in nature, meditation, mindfulness or creative practices.