February

February is International Boost Self Esteem Month, with
Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb 11 – Feb 17) and
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Feb 26 – March 3)

February is a great month to reconnect with our mental health practices, our friends, and nature. Despite the cold and gloom that many Americans are feeling, February can serve as a month to boost our mental wellness. As the New Year’s resolutions and accompanying excitement subside, try to practice self compassion and self care.

Connection as a Mental Health Tool

How connection to others can benefit your mental health

Humans are social animals. We need to interact with others to thrive and survive. Connecting to others can provide us with many benefits, such as:

Improving our ability to recover from stress, anxiety, and depression (ie increasing RESILIENCE). Social connection can help us cope with negative emotions, provide us with emotional support, and enhance our ability to deal with adversity. When we get to know people–and we allow them to know us–we can share our burdens and offer assistance and encouragement for navigating the travails of life. Linking ourselves to others can lead to increasing our “cheering section”; people become invested in us and can provide much-needed encouragement. This process strengthens our ability to recover from challenging times.
Promoting healthy habits and behaviors. Social connection can motivate us to eat well, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight. When we know people care about us, we perceive we are valued and “seen”; feelings of worthiness can enable us to make healthy-er choices for our physical and mental health. Connecting to others can even reduce the risk of engaging in violent and suicidal behaviors.
Improving our sleep, well-being, and quality of life. Social connection can help us relax, enjoy life, and feel satisfied. It can also improve our self-esteem, confidence, and happiness. Spending time with others allows us to discuss challenges and “vent” frustrations. Having a trust-worthy outlet to express emotions–even the not-so-good ones (in a respectful way)–can prevent ruminating on them and/or an escalation of those emotions. Having a trusted “sounding board” (i.e. someone whose intentions you know are positive/”good”) gives us the opportunity to obtain feedback and gain understanding through others’ perceptions.
Reducing our risk of chronic diseases and increasing our longevity. Social connection boosts the immune system, lower blood pressure, and protects us from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. When we feel better emotionally, we often feel better physically, too. Experiencing connection can increase our sense of well being, which enhances our immune system and reduces inflammation in our bodies. It can also help us live longer, as people with stronger social connections are 50% more likely to survive than those with weaker connections.

DAISY’s Random Acts of Kindness

These are some ways DAISY is spreading kindness this month

Donate a book to a Little Free Library near you today!

Donating a book to a Little Free Library. DAISY finished reading Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. She really enjoyed it, and wants others to enjoy it as well, so she found a Little Free Library near her house.
Writing a letter to a loved one. Handwritten letters can brighten up someone’s day. Could you write a letter to your best friend, a parent, or teacher?
Taking a walk with her friend. This simple act is great to get DAISY and her friend outside, and allow them time to hang out in person.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has some other great ideas, and they even have a calendar with a different act of kindness every day!

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Your friend,