Micro-acts build mental health.
Acts of kindness are sometimes a treat for others and others for ourselves. Here are a few ways that micro-acts can improve our emotional well-being:
Expressing gratitude - Even a quick "thank you" to someone can boost your mood and strengthen relationships. Making a habit of expressing gratitude for even small things can, over time, increase happiness.
Acting kindly - Doing something nice for someone else, like holding the door or giving a compliment, increases positive feelings. Small acts of kindness help create connections and improve your mood.
Practicing mindfulness - Taking even a minute or two to pay attention to the present moment, your breathing, your senses or thoughts without judgment can reduce stress and bring calm. Regular mindfulness in micro-doses builds resilience.
Reframing thoughts - Catching a negative thought and consciously shifting perspective to a more positive interpretation interrupts patterns of rumination and worry. Over time this builds optimism.
Taking a pause - Whether it's stopping to smell flowers or just taking a few deep breaths, pushing the pause button allows the mind and body to reset. Mini resets prevent burnout.
Checking in - Taking stock of your emotions periodically during the day makes you more aware of feelings and gives you a chance to adjust them. Quick check-ins can nip stress and anxiety in the bud.
The key to success is to build small positive actions and pauses into our normal day; we will actively cultivate more positive emotions and greater emotional agility over time. Micro-acts are simple but powerful ways to boost wellbeing.
