Health and Safety

Live Well this winter

1 June 2025

4 minutes to read

Take steps to look after your mental, emotional and physical health to help prevent the winter blues from kicking in.

With winter bringing darker days, longer nights, and worse weather, it can be all too easy to slip into a slump. Taking steps to look after your mental, emotional and physical health can help prevent the winter blues from kicking in. And help to do this is out there.

Live Well, Build Well has been putting in the mahi over the autumn months to keep Kiwi construction crews boosted. “Over the past few months, it’s been great getting out on-site, supporting you and your teams, as well as those working behind the scenes in the office,” says Live Well Build Well programme lead Rafael Caso.

“Our goal is simple: we want to see a future where mental fitness is seen as a strength, just like physical fitness. When we understand and practice it, we’re not just better at work, we’re better in all areas of life.”

Raf is leading by example, in sharing how he has been giving his mental health a positive hit this season. “Personally, I’ve been focusing on my own mental fitness, building small daily habits that make a big difference. I spend 20 minutes a day learning Spanish (my dad’s first language), paying more attention to what I eat, and making sure I move every day, even if it’s just a brisk walk. These small changes have improved my mood and helped me bounce back quicker from tough days.

Raf says he’d love to hear how other Kiwis in construction are looking after their own mental fitness, too.

“Building resilience, staying healthy, and strengthening your mental fitness takes time, patience, and consistency, but it’s worth it!”

When introducing the concept of Mental Fitness to tradies/builders Live Well, Build Well begins with the basics. It’s ‘5S’ concept - Sleep, Start, Sustain, Stop and Socialise - helps raise awareness of these basics. This enables individuals to assess where they currently sit and, from there, they can aim to make good improvements by fine-tuning their daily routine and swapping weak habits for stronger ones.

Champions

Becoming a Live Well, Build Well Champion is about more than mental health, says Raf. “It’s about flipping the script in New Zealand’s residential construction industry — one conversation, one site, one leader at a time.”

He says the organisation wishes to see Live Well, Build Well Champions become the backbone of a new kind of workplace culture: One where mental fitness is as normal as high-vis and smoko.

“This invitation-only initiative is designed for those who’ve shown grit, leadership, and the ability to positively influence others. Champions are everyday builders and tradies stepping up to be voices of support, strength, and change.

“We are honoured to have these tradies as LIVE WELL BUILD WELL Champions for 2025

"Give them a shout-out on social media and follow for updates,” says Raf. “You can learn more about them on and by watching their stories of resilience and mental fitness on our YouTube channel.

“Together our aim is to build a safer, stronger and more resilient workforce. Stay safe, stay strong, and keep living and building well!”