SMILES™: A Wellbeing Framework for Everyday Life

At Radio Wānaka, we love bringing you tools that make life healthier and more manageable. This week, we welcomed Dr Janine Bycroft from Healthify to talk about something simple yet powerful: the SMILES™ Wellbeing Framework.

What is SMILES™?

SMILES™ is a framework designed by Healthify to help us focus on the everyday habits that support our wellbeing. It’s not about big, dramatic lifestyle changes – it’s about the small steps that add up to make a real difference.

Each letter in SMILES™ stands for a key area of health:

• S – Sleep: getting the rest your body and mind need.

• M – Move: building activity into your day, in ways that feel good.

• I – Interact: staying connected with friends, whānau, and community.

• L – Learn: keeping your mind active and curious.

• E – Enjoy: making time for fun, hobbies, and things that bring joy.

• S – Slow down: pausing, breathing, and giving yourself permission to rest.

Why it Matters

As Dr Bycroft explained in our chat, wellbeing doesn’t come from one big change – it’s built in the everyday choices we make. SMILES™ gives us a reminder to check in on different parts of our lives, especially when things get busy or stressful.

Listen to the Conversation

🎧 You can hear our full kōrero with Dr Janine Bycroft here: 

Whether it’s making sure you sleep well, move your body, or simply enjoy a laugh with friends, the SMILES™ framework is a great reminder that wellbeing starts with small, everyday steps.