6Rs Sustainable Self Course - Recovery College Greenwich

6Rs Sustainable Self Course

The 6Rs Sustainable Self Course provides an introduction into personal recovery and is designed to support people to face the future with renewed confidence and optimism.

People need a challenge like recovery; it’s not about managing your problem but actually living the life you want.

Course aim:

Sustainable Self-Care: A Mental Health Guide Using the 6 R’s of Sustainability of Self

We often talk about sustainability in the context of our planet, emphasizing practices that reduce our environmental impact and ensure a healthy future.

But what if we applied these principles to the context of our own well-being?

Just as the Earth needs nurturing, so too does our mental health.

This course uses the 6R’s of sustainability to cultivate a more resilient and balanced mental landscape.

The 6R’s, traditionally used for environmental conservation, become powerful tools for self-care:

By applying the 6 R’s to our mental health, we can cultivate a more sustainable and resilient inner world.

It’s a continuous process of context, self-awareness, conscious choices, and compassionate action.

Just like protecting the environment, nurturing our mental well-being requires ongoing effort and a commitment to a healthier, more balanced future for ourselves.

Start small, be patient, and remember that every conscious effort, no matter how small, contributes to a more sustainable self and flourishing you.

RCG/BS/PCS 2025

Scheme of Work:

🌿 The 6R’s Mental Health Framework:

Building a Positive, Sustainable Self—One Step at a Time.

The 6R’s of Positive Sustainable Self course is a holistic, strengths and context-based framework that helps individuals care for their mental health through reflection, self-regulation, and mindful growth.

Each “R” supports emotional awareness, personal sustainability, and recovery without burnout.

🌿 Mental Health Awareness, Sustainable Self, and the 6R’s of Positive Sustainable Self

In an age of constant stress, emotional overload, and digital burnout, mental health awareness has become more important than ever. But beyond recognizing symptoms or offering support, we must also ask: How do we take care of ourselves in ways that last?

That’s where the idea of a Sustainable Self comes in.

A Sustainable Self is not about perfection, productivity, or pretending to be okay. It’s about building a life that honours your emotional needs, respects your energy, and helps you stay balanced, resilient, and whole—not just on your best days, but through real-life ups and downs.

The 6R’s of Positive Sustainable Self provide a repeatable framework that supports long-term mental and emotional wellness. These aren’t quick fixes—they’re daily anchors that help you come back to yourself with care and intention.

🧠 What Does It Mean to Be a Sustainable Self?

To live as a Sustainable Self means:

Knowing when to pause, rest, or reset
Making choices that align with your values and capacity
Being emotionally honest and self-compassionate
Building habits that support—not drain—your mental health
Trusting yourself to navigate life with flexibility and intention

It’s the opposite of burnout. It’s mentally healthy living, on purpose.

🔄 The 6R’s of a Positive Sustainable Self 6 week course.

Let’s explore how each of the 6R’s in context contributes to both mental health awareness and the creation of a sustainable, emotionally supported self.

1️⃣ Reflect

Purpose: Tune into your thoughts, emotions, patterns, and needs.

Mental wellness begins with self-awareness. Reflecting helps you understand what’s working, what’s not, and what needs attention.

📝 Prompt: “How am I really doing today—physically, mentally, emotionally?”

2️⃣ Reframe

Purpose: Shift how you interpret challenges and inner dialogue.

Sustainability requires perspective. Reframing helps transform negative self-talk or limiting beliefs into more supportive, balanced thoughts.

💡 Reframe example:
“I can’t keep up” → “I’m allowed to slow down and prioritize what matters.”

3️⃣ Reset

Purpose: Break cycles of overwhelm and consciously begin again.

We all get off balance. Resetting is a choice to return to your center without shame.

🌿 Practice: Take a 5–10 minute reset each day—walk, breathe, stretch, or journal to clear mental clutter.

4️⃣ Restore

Purpose: Replenish your energy through rest, joy, and nourishment.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. Restoration is non-negotiable for a Sustainable Self.

🛏️ Tip: Protect your sleep, plan slow moments, and let joy be part of your wellness strategy.

5️⃣ Reconnect

Purpose: Reconnect with your values, purpose, community, and self.

Mental health suffers in isolation. Reconnection brings meaning, belonging, and balance.

👫 Prompt: “What makes me feel grounded and alive? Who reminds me of who I truly am?”

6️⃣ Reimagine

Purpose: Envision what’s possible when you lead yourself with care and clarity.

Reimagining helps you build a life that supports your mental health—not one that competes with it.

🌟 Exercise: Write out your ideal week. How would you live, rest, and grow if sustainability guided every decision?

🌱 Final Thoughts: Your Mental Health Is a Garden—Not a To-Do List

Mental health awareness is not just about recognizing what’s broken. It’s about actively creating a life that supports healing, balance, and joy.

Through the 6R’s of Positive Sustainable Self, you can build emotional habits that last—not by doing more, but by doing what matters most for your well-being. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present.
And you don’t need to fix yourself—you just need to support yourself sustainably, one choice at a time.