If there ever was a time for random acts of kindness and seeking ways to cheer up friends and family, it’s now. The announcement of the third national lockdown inevitably brings increasing levels of isolation – so it’s a great idea to look out for others more than usual.
During the first Covid-19 lockdown we witnessed an abundance of kindness from lots of people across the UK. In fact, one study showcased the ‘hidden heroes’ of 2020 who looked after their friends and neighbours during the tough days we all faced often without widespread recognition.
Want to take inspiration from these champions and make a difference to others? In this article, we offer some ideas to get you started with creating smiles and positivity.
Send care packages
There are lots of ways you can put smiles on faces and offer a little boost to your loved ones. It doesn’t have to be extravagant either. Something that costs very little, such as a handwritten letter or a card in the post, will put a much-needed smile on the recipient’s face.
If you’re considering something a little larger, make a list of all the things you know they like – it might be tea, dark chocolate, or a certain type of book or film. Once you have a collection of things you know they love, you can either collate them into one care package or send them smaller regular packages to keep spirits up.
At the end of the day, who doesn’t love receiving post that isn’t bills? Whatever you send will show thought and care and it’s a win win too, as it’s said the secret to happiness is helping others.
Host a virtual ‘event’
For friends and family that live alone, this can be an incredibly lonely and isolating time and, while people are quickly getting rather fed up with video calls, digital interaction can be invaluable for wellbeing. There are lots of ways you can go with this idea, including:
- Movie night – watch a film at the same time with the video call on to chat about the film as you go along or at the end.
- Dinner party – get your ‘guests’ to make the same meal and enjoy dinner together with great company and conversation.
- Games night – whether it’s a quiz, card games or a spot of Scrabble there are lots of ways to take a games night online.
A lighthearted evening of company, laughter and fun (albeit virtual) might just be what everyone needs to lift the doom and gloom.
Start a club
If your friends have genuinely had enough of Zoom, Teams or any other video calling platform – why not create a WhatsApp group to stay connected and start a mini club? Whether you all start to listen to the same podcast, watch a series on Netflix, catchup on some classic films or even read particular books – the WhatsApp group can be the place you discuss it.
How frequently you do it is up to you – but this is a less invasive way to ensure isolated loved ones have both an activity to enjoy and a way to connect with others.
Remember, it’s the small things that count
Random acts of kindness don’t have to feature bells and whistles. In fact, the little things might mean the most. Sending a picture of fluffy puppies, a book or TV programme recommendation, an interesting article, or check-in text or arranging a phone call for a catch up can really show you care.
Hopefully these tips will help you ensure your loved ones know you care. Whether you simply pick up the phone or arrange something a little bigger, it’s the effort and kindness that will be appreciated by isolated or struggling family and friends.
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