We hope you enjoy joining us in this way and we hope you find our Mental Health Awareness Week activities useful and informative. As always, we're keen to hear your feedback to inform future events - drop us an email at lifelounge@bolton.ac.uk to let us know what you think!
Be kind to others!
Being kind to someone can brighten their day! It can ease feelings of depression and loneliness just a smile can make all the difference. Your act of kindness can make all the difference to someone else's day.
But did you know that being kind to others is also good for you?
"Evidence shows that helping others is actually beneficial for your own mental health and wellbeing. It can help reduce stress, improve your emotional wellbeing and even benefit your physical health." Read the article by the Mental Health Foundation!
Here is a video from one of our Student Advisors, Andy. As a Student Advisor, Andy works in a front facing environment and enjoys showing kindness to others, especially those who are experiencing difficulties in their studies or who are going through a hard time in their personal life. He knows that even small acts of kindness make a huge difference to someone’s day and to their wellbeing longer term. Here he is providing some ideas on how you can show kindness to others during this difficult time.
Please also take time to visit the links in the below sections which provide more information on how you can get involved in helping others.
RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS GENERATOR
So you want to do something kind but you are stuck for ideas?
Millions of people across the world are taking part in one of the biggest acts of kindness the world has ever seen! Social distancing has left many of us at home, with little contact from others, as we be kind and protect each other from the spread of Covid-19.
But social distancing has left many people in need; they could be lonely, with limited contact from others. They could be feeling low, with the loss of routine and normal habits such as exercise and socialising being limitied. For this reason, finding acts of kindness to help each other, and raise each other's spirits has never been more important!
Acts of kindness you can do for others:
Volunteer your time:
If you're fit and healthy, you may be able to donate your time to others in need of support.
You could help loved ones who are more vulnerable to complete tasks such as shopping and getting essential supplies. Gov.Uk share advice on supporting others here.
If you can offer more time and you would like to support your local community, read more on volunteering your time here!
Many charities and organisations are supporting those who are particularly vulnerable and who may be unable to leave their house. To help their work, you may be able to donate food to local food banks. Get in touch with local organisations to see how you can help. You can search for your nearest food banks via the Trussell Trust organisation webpage
Whilst it is great to reach out to others and be kind, it is really important to ensure you do this safely. ALways ensure you are up to date on current safety advice, including adhering to 2 meter Social Distancing rules and washing your hands regularly, to reduce the spread of germs and ensure your own wellbeing.
Making salt dough is a great activity for all of the family to get involved in. It’s simple, relaxing and you can make it a lot of fun. You could design items for gifts, capture hand or footprints, accessories for a teddy bears picnic or for dollhouses, holiday decorations, or just to brighten up your home! If you need some inspiration, a quick internet search will lead to some great ideas to get you thinking. See the below steps on how you can make your salt dough…then let your imagination loose!
Step 6. Bake your designs for approximately 3 hours, or until solid. Bake at your lowest oven setting, or around 50°c.
Step 7. Once cooled, decorate however you like - you could use felt tip pens, paint, glitter, sequins, buttons... the list goes on. Relax and have fun!
Share your pictures of your acts of kindness!
Use #UoBKindness and share your pictures with us and you could win Amazon eVouchers.
The top prize is £50!
The competition closes at 11.59 on Friday 22nd May 2020
Winners will be chosen at random!
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