Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:
- creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
- giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
- helping you connect with other people
It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.
The Mental Health Foundation have produced a Kindness Matters guide exploring the positive effect that helping others can have on your own mental health.
Things you can do today
- Make a cup of tea for a colleague
- See if you can sign up for any local volunteering opportunities
- Pay someone a compliment or make the time to show your appreciation to a colleague or someone in your life
- Carry out a random act of kindness
And don’t forget to be kind to yourself as well. It can be easy to forget about yourself while practising kindness, however, self-care is essential in maintaining healthy general wellbeing, particularly when you have responsibility for others.
Catch up on all Five Ways to Wellbeing announcements
Monday: Connect
Tuesday: Be active
Wednesday: Take notice
Thursday: Keep learning