Last month we focused our attention more so on the need to remain physically active during the lockdown period. The CMT team enjoyed sharing photos of various physical activities with you all, as well as seeing some of our fantastic apprentices getting involved too. Looking after our mental health is particularly challenging during the pandemic but we know that physical and mental wellbeing are intrinsically linked, so taking care of one typically helps the other.
However, there are other ways to look after our mental health too so, as well as getting active, we wanted to look at other ways people are looking after themselves. The Mental Health Foundation have a Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) each May and this year it will run 18th-24th. It could not have come at a better time as we all take stock of the impact the changes in our way of life have had on us. With this year’s MHAW theme being kindness, here are five ways in which acts of kindness can help us through the lockdown.
REALISTIC APPROACH
We should first consider being kind with ourselves. We may not have done all the things that we had intended to do with more time at home. Writing the next Booker Prize winner, training to challenge Mo Farah at the London marathon, becoming a gastronomic sensation to rival the top Michelin starred chefs. You may have promised yourself that you would achieve one or more of these, or something similar. There is a good chance you have not done it. Would you like to know a secret? Barely anybody has completed their grand plans either, so don’t beat yourself up. Consider Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for a moment and recognise that to be able to achieve those highly creative ambitions we must first have the basic needs in place. It is difficult to have those during such uncertainty.
STRIKING A BALANCE
Secondly, switch off and give yourself some ‘me’ time. The lines between home and work have blurred dramatically and this has created its own pandemic of people struggling to tear themselves away from their laptops. It is so much harder to compartmentalise when our space to work and relax are the same. The stress and guilt attached to feelings of both not doing enough and too much can weigh heavy. Being able to let this go, creating a structure to your time and knowing you are doing your best are important steps to being kinder in a highly pressured environment. You are doing a great job in difficult circumstances. Give yourself a break. You are allowed to do things for yourself too. Your mind, body and work will benefit if you can achieve the right balance.
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVES
Negative headlines get more attention than positive, complaints are typically freer flowing than compliments, people dwell on their mistakes rather than their successes. Negativity trumps positivity all too often. Let’s flip the script this Mental Health Awareness Week and beyond so that the positive gets the limelight. If you see something that deserves credit say so, pay that person a compliment and celebrate a job well done. These small acts can go further than you think. We all need a bit of kindness right now and those that give a little are best placed to receive a little back.
PRAISE YOURSELF
Don’t neglect yourself in this either. If you have done something that you are pleased with then take a second to give yourself a pat on the back. You have earned it. We don’t have people around us who will notice these small wins in the same way that we would normally, but they still deserve to be recognised. These mini boosts are key to our confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing, and it is undeniably harder without them. There is no harm in being your own cheerleader at times!
KINDNESS BREEDS KINDNESS
Last but not least, we can pay it forward. This kindness principle became a craze that was so popular it was the subject of a novel and Hollywood film. The Mental Health Foundation are keen for this week to spark a kindness revolution and produce a kinder society. Paying it forward is a great way to do just that. The British Red Cross are celebrating 150 years of helping the vulnerable this year and their tagline is “A small act of kindness can change someone’s life”. This is so true at any time, but it is particularly significant at the moment.
So, when you receive kindness – no matter how big or small – do not just look to pay it back to the person who was good to you, look to pay it forward to someone else. The hope is that they will in turn do the same to someone else, creating a chain of kindness that spreads throughout our communities both digitally and in the real world.
OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU
We hope these five ideas can be useful to you. If you find the right balance and are realistic in what you can do while supporting others, acknowledging your own successes and creating positivity then we believe everyone will be better for it. This leaves us at CMT with two questions for you:
- How are you keeping yourself positive during lockdown?
Keep your eyes peeled this week for your CMT trainer and how they have been keeping their minds and bodies active to maintain their mental health. We would love for you to share your pictures and ideas with us on how you are staying healthy too.
- What acts of kindness have you seen or done yourself?
It would be great to hear your stories this week so post them below or tag us in your Mental Health Awareness Week posts. Tell us how you have paid it forward or started a chain of kindness where you are.
From all at CMT this Mental Health Awareness Week, be kind, be safe, be well.