At a time when it’s felt like there hasn’t been much good news, it’s important to remember the positives
With the global coronavirus pandemic and strict lockdown measures taking a heavy toll, many of us have struggled with a rolling feed of bad news — and it’s easy to conclude that the world is full of bad people making bad decisions.
While keeping abreast of the news can make us feel informed, according to the book Human Kind: A Hopeful History: ‘News is to the mind what sugar is to the body.’ Which is to say, not very good for us.
Watching, reading or listening to the news causes something called ‘mean world syndrome’. The idea is that we’re so affected by what we hear and see being reported, our view of the world is negatively impacted. We start thinking the world is more dangerous than it is, which can increase feelings of fear, anxiety and pessimism.
In fact, studies suggest depression and anxiety tripled during the height of lockdown, so it’s never been more important to look after our wellbeing.
Despite what our newsfeeds tell us, the world has always been and remains full of good people. Amid the misery of lockdown, community spirit and human kindness emerged, which is good for those who are kind and those who are the recipients of kindness.
Dr Dimitrios Paschos, consultant psychiatrist at Re
‘Neurochemicals are released when we perform acts of kindness, creating a “helper’s high”, as well as releasing the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine, which help improve mood and even reduce pain.’
At a time when lockdown measures have kept us apart, acts of kindness can help us feel more connected.
‘Kindness strengthens bonds and improves self-esteem. It can also help naturally to relieve stress and anxiety,’ Dr Paschos explains. ‘What’s more, kindness is addictive and contagious — the kinder you are, the more inclined you’ll be to continue performing kindness. When others witness this kindness, they too are inspired to be kind.
‘Join the movement and enjoy the many benefits through volunteering, helping others, smiling and saying kind and positive things. The effects are positive and it’s completely free!’
Edited by Kim Willis
How to find and feel kindness
While it’s important to stay informed, topical news can weigh you down.
- Try unfollowing social media accounts that make you feel sad or anxious and follow good news accounts such as @thehappynewspaper
- Go offline — the real world is infinitely happier than the world online.
- Spend time in nature and with people.
- Kindness starts with ourselves. Learn to be kind in your mind with the mental fitness app Mindshine. Visit mindshine.app
For inspiring ideas, take part in the One Million Acts of Kindness campaign with Sunshine People. Visit sunshinepeople.org.uk
‘We’re spreading the love’
We hadn’t been in lockdown long when my daughter Adele, seven, came to me in tears. She’d seen something on TV about the virus and the people being interviewed were sad.
She decided to do something to make people feel better.
Adele printed colourful hearts, adding jewels and gluing them to card. She asked her little sister Bella, four, to help. The pair decorated hundreds of hearts emblazoned with the sentiment: You’ve got this. Wearing protective gloves and keeping a safe distance, they went around our neighbourhood dropping hearts through letterboxes.
That night, Adele said: ‘I can go to sleep happy because I might have made people smile.’
They haven’t stopped since. Someone who works in Pembury Hospital asked if Adele could make hearts for her colleagues, and now the team in our local hospital proudly wear a love heart badge made by Adele and Bella.
At a time when we’re forced to stay apart, Adele has connected us to each other with a simple gesture which reminds us all there’s so much love, hope and community in the world.
Senna Turk, 29, E Sussex