Being locked up in isolation can be difficult for everyone and when you’re feeling low, it can be easy to get wrapped up in your own world of problems without considering the wider community. However, it’s been proven that spreading joy and kindness can boost your own wellbeing and happiness, so here’s some simple things that you can do to spread the love (and boost your mood) from the comfort of your own home.
Post a Letter
The government is permitting one hour of exercise outside a day, so why not walk, jog or run to your nearest post box and send a meaningful letter to a loved one instead of the usual text. If you have older generations or grandparents in the family, they will especially appreciate this and it’s sure to bring a smile to their face.
Tell a Story
With schools shut and many parents having to work at home, it can be hard to fit home schooling and their usual workload into every day. If you know someone that is juggling the two, why not give them some respite and spend 20 minutes on Facetime reading their child a story. It may not seem like a lot to you, but for someone else it could be the much-needed break that they’ve been longing for.
Create a Quiz
If you have friends or family members that are struggling, organising a fun quiz night to boost the mood can be a brilliant way of staying in touch and showing that you care. Zoom and Houseparty are two great free apps that allow you to do group video calls with ease. The only thing you need to do is source some questions, which are readily available online.
Decorate the House
With the ability to visit family members and friends gone for now, we’re all feeling a little bit lonely and out of touch. Why not decorate the front of your house with chalk or hang artwork and signs in your windows? It will spread a bit of positivity and make strangers smile as they walk by. Some people are also creating rainbows for children to count as they take their daily exercise.
Help a Neighbour
Whether you’re friendly with your neighbours or not, now is a great time to lend out a helping hand by offering to do things for those that may be more vulnerable in your community. You can use cards or letters to write a brief explanation, leaving your contact details and house number, and post it out to the houses on your road. You may be surprised by the amount of people that get back in touch, and could make a huge difference with your simple act of kindness.
Buy a Voucher
If you know someone who owns a local business and has had to temporarily close, there are still ways that you can help them out from home. Many beauty salons or clothes stores are offering vouchers and gift-cards that can be purchased now and redeemed at a later date in order to help the cash flow. Why not buy one for you, or even a friend, and support your favourite local shop.
There are so many more things that you can do to put a smile on someone’s face whilst we’re in isolation and these are just a few. Keep in regular contact with those that you love, check up on the vulnerable members in your community and be kind.
