As World Kindness Day approaches (Friday 13 November) Warwickshire County Council wants to remind residents that there is lots of support available if you need a boost or helping hand .....
As World Kindness Day approaches (Friday 13 November) Warwickshire County Council wants to remind residents that there is lots of support available if you need a boost or helping hand at this challenging time.
As the evenings are getting increasingly darker and we are all staying home because of Covid-19, this time of year might feel quite difficult. It can be frustrating not being able to see our friends and family as usual, but following the rules is the kind thing to do. It means we are doing the right thing for Warwickshire by keeping ourselves and others safe. We are all in this together and it is important to protect us all.
For those needing support over the coming weeks, here’s our suggestions for being kind to yourself, as well as others. Please do spread the word and share these with your neighbours, friends and family who might also find it helpful.
Get active
Being active can help to boost your mood as well as physical health. It doesn’t have to be daunting; activities like a short walk, dancing around the kitchen, yoga or even housework all count towards your goal. To help keep you active, here is some advice:
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Sit less and take breaks
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Add little chunks of movement to your day
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Try regular gentle stretches
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Get into a routine.
Whether you are working from home, self-isolating or can go outside for exercise, there is something for everyone in our activity guide. We’re allowed to meet with one other person from another household outside, so you can always be kind and invite a friend or neighbour to join you – they will appreciate the fresh air and company as much as you.
For more ideas and a range of activities for yourself and the whole family, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/coronavirusactive
Look after your mind
As we continue to adjust to changes to our daily life, the kind thing to do is to take care of your mind as well as your body. 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 that happen in our lives.
To improve your mental health and wellbeing, and your overall feeling of happiness, try the five ways to wellbeing:
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Be active
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Connect
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Give
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Keep learning
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Take notice
If you are struggling with complicated and negative thoughts and feelings, or if you are worried about a friend or family member, Dear Life is a new website which provides a range of support and signposting to vital services. It’s a good place to start if you don’t know where else to turn for help: www.dearlife.org.uk/looking-after-yourself/
Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Councillor 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.”
Our services are there for you
While the lockdown period means changes to some services, the council is still open for business. For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Warwickshire, support available and changes to services please visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk. The council’s social media accounts are great way to stay connected and keep up to date with the latest news and they are a great source of information to share with others too.
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WarwickshireCountyCouncil
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/warwickshire_cc
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestwarwickshire/