This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, with the theme being kindness. This was specifically chosen to reflect both the difficulties faced and reciprocating acts of kindness through COVID-19.
Recent events have highlighted how important human connection is and has put into perspective what is important in life. Local communities have come together, from delivering food to those self-isolating to people sowing PPE clothing. It has shown how acts of kindness can make such a big difference to our lives.
Research has shown that acts of kindness are linked to our well-being and can have a positive impact on our happiness. A simple act of kindness leads to another which has a rippling effect on all of those around us.
Reaching out to others is very important and we all need to be reminded of this sometimes, here we have put together a few simple gestures or us all to consider. These are relevant to our personal lives, work lives, on social media and in the local community.
1. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
2. Offer to help a neighbour or vulnerable person with their shopping.
3. Praise a colleague for something they have done well.
4. Speak to a colleague you haven’t spoken to before.
5. Remind your family how much you love them.
6. Be a considerate cyclist/driver.
7. If working from home, set up a virtual coffee catch up.
8. On social media, write something nice or encouraging to others.
9. Take time to listen to others, sometimes that is all they need.
10. Say hello and smile to those you pass in the street, (from a safe 2 metres or more distance.)
These are simple steps into how we can consider others, however it is also important to consider ourselves and be kind to ourselves.
Treat yourself with kindness and you will naturally be kind to others.