Aucklanders have had it pretty tough recently. With all the uncertainty and instability, it can be hard to find those little sparks of light in our day to day lives. But they’re there, we promise! This section is all about acknowledging the resilience and awesomeness of Aucklanders and interrupting the negativity we’re seeing too much of on the news with something a little more positive. There are people out there doing incredible things, both big and small, to help themselves and others get through, and we want to celebrate that!
Be kind to yourself.
Show yourself some compassion and talk to yourself in the same way you’d talk to your mates. Sometimes we can be overly tough on ourselves and set really high expectations for what we can and should be achieving. Give yourself credit for just getting through each day because we think that’s pretty awesome! Before you get out of bed in the morning, why not start each day by saying something kind about yourself?
Take some time for you.
We all need some me time sometimes. Life is hard right now – whether you’re surrounded by people, soldiering on alone or heading out to work as an essential worker, but taking a little time for ourselves everyday can really help. Check out our Me Time campaign for some ideas.
Try to limit the amount of news you follow.
It can be overwhelming seeing and hearing negative news all the time and it also creates an unnecessary sense of fear. Pick one source you trust (like the official COVID-19 website) and check it once per day. Follow positive news accounts instead like Daily Encourager or the Good News Network, or keep an eye out for our Awesome Aucklander stories on here and our social media, celebrating the incredible things people are doing to help themselves and others get through.
Prioritise your wellbeing using Te Whare Tapa Whā.
Learn about the four dimensions of wellbeing and think about which areas you feel are going well for you right now and which ones you need to focus on to boost your hauora/wellbeing.
Notice the things that make you feel good.
And do them more often! It could be your morning coffee, getting outside in nature or playing games with your tamariki/children. The Five Ways are simple strategies that are proven to boost wellbeing and are super easy to include in your day-to-day routine.
Spread a little kindness.
When dealing with tough times like lockdowns and things feel most out of our control, it’s important to focus on what we can control. As hard as life seems right now, when we nurture each other and lead with kindness, we uncover little sparks of light that can really bring people and communities together. Think about someone who might need some extra support - what can you do to help them get through?
Support a neighbour or elderly family member.
You could drop off kai to someone who’s busy or less able to go out and buy food, or pick up someone’s groceries for them to show you care.
Reach out to loved ones.
Send a kind message to someone in your life and let them know you’re thinking of them.
Get together outside with someone you care about.
Whilst we can’t meet indoors right now, why not get outside with a friend, neighbour or whānau member who could do with some company or tautoko/support? If you’re unable to visit (or the weather is bad), you could give them a call instead. A little chat can go a long way!
Volunteer your time to others in need.
Volunteering gives us a sense of purpose and allows us to nurture new and existing relationships, both of which are great for our wellbeing. You could join a community group or get involved in volunteer opportunities at Volunteering Auckland.
Encourage kindness amongst tamariki.
Being awesome to others is something tamariki can do too! Try these Give a Bunch of Kindness and Everyday Kindness activities from Sparklers at Home with your tamariki.
Spread positivity.
Smile or say thank you to someone out there in your community doing the mahi during lockdown. You never know how much that person might have needed that smile.