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Today is #RandomActsofKindnessDay.
Practicing acts of kindness can help you and your peers feel better about your lives and more hopeful about your futures.
Here are 21 ways you can use kindness to boost your mental health as well as uplift others.
Practicing acts of kindness can help you and your peers feel better about your lives and more hopeful about your futures.
Here are 21 ways you can use kindness to boost your mental health as well as uplift others.
1. Show some love to someone through a note, call, or text.
2. Share what #mentalillnessfeelslike. There’s power in sharing.
3. Tag a friend on a funny video. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.
2. Share what #mentalillnessfeelslike. There’s power in sharing.
3. Tag a friend on a funny video. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.
4. Go off the grid and spend time with someone face-to-face.
5. Spend some time with a pet or learn how you can volunteer with a shelter.
6. Say “no” to social events that overwhelm you - even virtual ones can be overwhelming.
5. Spend some time with a pet or learn how you can volunteer with a shelter.
6. Say “no” to social events that overwhelm you - even virtual ones can be overwhelming.
7. Sign up to volunteer your time with a nonprofit. Many have digital opportunities like content creation that they need support with.
8. Do your best to enjoy 15 minutes of sunshine at a safe distance from others.
9. Do something with friends and family like a virtual game night
8. Do your best to enjoy 15 minutes of sunshine at a safe distance from others.
9. Do something with friends and family like a virtual game night
10. Reach out and have a conversation with a coworker you haven’t spent time with.
11. Donate items instead of money to charity.
12. Treat yourself to dark chocolate to boost brainpower.
11. Donate items instead of money to charity.
12. Treat yourself to dark chocolate to boost brainpower.
13. Pay it forward at the drive-thru if you're picking up food.
14. Fill out an online petition or write to your elected official.
15. Call someone you care about but haven’t talked to in a while.
14. Fill out an online petition or write to your elected official.
15. Call someone you care about but haven’t talked to in a while.
16. Help an elderly friend/neighbor run errands or do chores.
17. Buy a cup of coffee for someone.
18. Clean up leaves or garbage on your street.
17. Buy a cup of coffee for someone.
18. Clean up leaves or garbage on your street.
19. Tag someone you think could use a pick-me-up here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BmDtGTjgyKB/?taken-by=mentalhealthamerica
20. Check up on your mental health at http://MHAScreening.org .
21. Be kind to yourself – give yourself a break.
20. Check up on your mental health at http://MHAScreening.org .
21. Be kind to yourself – give yourself a break.
Research indicates that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains, and better health. They may even live longer.
Remember to take care of your #mentalhealth first. While it's important to show others kindness, you should also be mindful that your needs are critical. To help others, you have to care for yourself first. Remember, self-care is not selfish - it's survival.
