WORLD Kindness Day is today and Warwickshire County chiefs are reminding residents of support available for those facing difficulty.
As the evenings get darker and many people continue to stay largely housebound, the winter days might feel especially difficult.
For those needing support over the coming weeks, the council has put together some tips for kindness to the self and to others.
Get active: being active can help boost your mood as well as physical health. It doesn’t have to be daunting. Even activities like a short walk, dancing around the kitchen, yoga or even housework count.
For those working from home or with less time, advice includes sitting less and adding ‘little chunks of movement’ to the day and regular, gentle stretches.
Those who can venture outside are reminded they can meet with one other person from another household for some social interaction.
Look after your mind: good mental health gives a sense of purpose and direction, provides the energy to do the things we want to do, and the ability to deal with the challenges in our lives.
Five ways to improve wellbeing and feelings of happiness include being active, connecting, giving, learning and taking notice.
WCC leader Izzi Seccombe said: “Over recent months Warwickshire’s residents and communities have shown kindness in many ways and as an organisation we recognise how important this has been in helping us all navigate the challenges of the recent months. Acts of kindness are very often captured in the small gestures that can make a big difference to someone’s day, and there are lots of great examples online on websites like www.randomactsofkindness.org.
“World Kindness Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate kindness to others as well as being kind to ourselves. This is something many of you do every day and I know will continue to do so. I want to provide reassurance that the county council is also doing what we can to ensure our residents remain safe and supported and we can all show kindness and continue to do the right thing for Warwickshire as we stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.”
While the lockdown has meant changes to some services, the council is still open for business.
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk for the most up-to-date information about covid-19 in Warwickshire, support available and changes to services. Alternatively, follow the council’s social media accounts.
For those struggling with complicated and negative thoughts and feelings, or worried about someone else, Dear Life is a new website which provides advice and signposting to support services. Visit www.dearlife.org.uk/looking-after-yourself for details.
