Believe it or not, you can improve your mental health during a Pandemic. But it requires a sacrifice – can you do it?

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I’m exhausted, aren’t you? Our moment in time should be our moment to shine but alas, it’s not. And it’s hell on our mental health. However, there is hope. While a silver lining can be hard to find, I feel like we can’t give up.

So, then, what can be done? A thought I find bouncing around in my head all too often these days. What can be done to make our situation more tolerable? Personally, I’d like to think we have a lot of options.

But they require sacrifice on our part. And in times like these, it’s the best thing to do for the betterment of your neighbor, your family, your community.

With that said, can you do it? Can you tear yourself away from your video games, your phone, your streaming service? I sure hope so. Because we need all hands on deck.

How far does a little kindness go? U of T researcher examines how doing good improves mental health

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So, then, what if I told you that your sacrifice doesn’t have to be huge? Nor that it will take up much of your time? And what’s more and a bonus for you, is that it can help improve your mental health. Wouldn’t that be a good thing? I bet your answer is, “of course it would be.”

However, it all comes back to the question “can you do it?”

The power of helping.

It turns out that you and I and everyone else on this planet are wired to help one another. A skill that was imprinted in our DNA over thousands of years. I know – amazing, right? Moreover, it appears that helping others improves Our Mental Well-Being. Who knew?

The mental health benefits of helping others

What’s most amazing is that your contribution doesn’t have to be huge. Helping others can look like:

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• Generalized kindness – Smile and say hi more often; compliment someone or offer assistance thing. One I find works well is asking “How are you doing?” followed by a healthy dose of listening. This, of course, works best when you’re already involved in a conversation. In short, show that you care.
• Volunteer. Help bring meals to the elderly, shovel/salt someone’s driveway, help the poor and disadvantaged through these tough times.
• If you’re from a wealthy nation, donate some money. A little donation goes a long way when you figure in the rate of exchange.
• Your words matter. You never know what the power of kind words has. For example, if I engage in conversation with someone, I might say, “I hope you have the best day ever.” Sometimes, I might say, “I hope your day gets better.” I deploy this one when I notice someone struggling.
• Take a chance. Not everyone you meet deserves to be met with suspicion. Unless they totally freak you out, try engaging in a conversation. Maybe they are desperately lonely. Trust me – if this is the case, you would make their day.

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While they are useful tools, even entertaining, they appear to leave their mark on our mental resilience. Again, we are designed for connection with others and feel rewarded by helping those around us. Plus, we are helping others feel better by making their lives a little easier. And in these anxiety-producing times, we could all use a little mental pain reduction.

Can you do it? Can you tear yourself away from the isolating habits of video games, TV, phones, and PCs?

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In closing, I would like to say this: “You may feel hurt, frustrated, anxious even. More than that, you may even feel a loss of control. However, doing little things with big meaning can help restore a sense of control. Helping others can act as your salvation from the mental pain of COVID 19.”

Jonathan Arenburg.

Jonathan Arenburg is a Blogger, Podcaster, and published author

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