Mental Health Awareness week is being celebrated by Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest on 18th-22nd May. The theme this year is Kindness. Kindness is particularly relevant at this time. The good news: kindness is teachable and contagious.
Did you know?
Studies have shown kindness to increase energy, happiness, lifespan, pleasure and serotonin. Kindness can decrease pain, stress, anxiety, depression and blood pressure. Kindness can be a useful tool to support our wellbeing and mental health. (https://www.dartmouth.edu/wellness/emotional/rakhealthfacts.pdf).
Kindness – noun: the quality of being generous, helpful, and caring about other people, or an act showing this quality (Cambridge Dictionary).
We invite you to join us for a daily task themed around kindness in combination with the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. We would encourage you to record how you feel after participating and share your stories.
Daily Kindness Challenges
- Monday 18th May Be active: Be kind to your body today. Do a physical activity you enjoy with intention. Choose to make this activity a gift to your heart, muscles and mind.
- Tuesday 19th May Take notice: We challenge you to notice kindness happening around you. Make a list of all the kind things you hear, see, experience or read about.
- Wednesday 20th Keep learning: Learn about the benefits of kindness, how to show kindness to yourself and others and consider sharing an article or web resource.
- Thursday 21st Give: A Random Act of Kindness has a goal is to spread kindness to those we know and those we do not know. It’s a practice that offers hope to unsuspecting people. Perform an act of kindness for a family member/friend, neighbour or your community. This website has many ideas: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/ (adapted for social distancing) to inspire you.
- Friday 22nd Connect: Find a way to connect to others while social distancing. Wave hello to someone passing by, put a supportive note in your window or send a kind message to a friend or family member.
