Mental Health Awareness Week – Importance of Kindness

Just like our physical health, we all have mental health. We respond to experiences with our emotions, feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

There can be changes in our bodies which are connected to our feelings and thoughts – for example, just as in PE, when our heart beats very quickly after we have been running, the same is true when we are nervous or scared.

Mental health is something we all have and must look after. There might be days when we feel sad or we struggle and other days when we feel confident and calm.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week which is focusing on the power and potential of kindness. Kindness is doing something for yourself and others, because you want to make a positive difference.

Be kind to yourself

Being kind to ourselves, not judging ourselves and realising that it’s ok to get things wrong, helps us to accept we have limitations; after all, we are only human. We cannot compare ourselves to other people. You have qualities and strengths unique to you. Other ways we can be kind to ourselves include:

• Getting enough sleep
• Eating healthy and drinking water
• Taking time to yourself – a long bath, quietly reading a book, phoning a friend, playing your favourite game
• Exercise, exercise, exercise – keeps your spirit lifted and your mind healthy
• Take 2 minutes in the morning or evening to appreciate yourself 😊 YOU ARE AMAZING!

Being kind to others

Being kind to others is equally important. People may be dealing with their own worries so it is our duty to support them and bring joy to their lives. Being kind to others also increases our own levels of happiness as well as theirs.

What’s more, it has a knock-on effect – kindness is contagious, so it makes a bigger impact on our surroundings than we might think. Being kind to someone else does not have to be a big gesture, it can be any random gesture.

A kinder society

The coronavirus outbreak has taken many of us by surprise, but the one thing that we have seen all over the world is that kindness is prevailing. Random acts of kindness have been happening everywhere in our local communities.

One act of kindness can lead to many more, so have a go- inspire people to be kind to others and themselves, help spread the ‘kindness bug’. 😊

Nicole is a primary school teacher and tutor with Newman Tuition. To book a lesson with her, or one of our other excellent tutors, please call us on 020 3198 8006, email us at [email protected], or complete the form on the ‘Contact Us’ page.