Practice community care
Self care as a way of promoting wellbeing is a concept that most people are familiar with now. But the idea of community care as a source of emotional and physical support is a concept that is still not quite mainstream. Community care entails the idea that we all need to feel like we’re a part of a community, a part of something bigger than ourselves to feel happy and be healthy.
If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense that we would be happier and healthier if we feel like we’re not socially isolated and know that if ever we needed help, we would be supported by our community.
But if you want to receive support from people in that community, you need to participate in that community. You need to support others who are in need of help.
So, here are some quick tips to get you more involved in your community, if you think this is something you might benefit from:
– join your neighbourhood Facebook group (or a local interest group) and participate in the discussions that happen there
– volunteer your time at a local community centre or community gathering space
– respond to any call outs on FB for people who need to borrow something or need a chore done
– make a call out on the FB group that you have some free time (for an afternoon, or what have you) if anyone is in need of some help (for instance the elderly or new mothers)
– attend community events to support and meet others in your community – create your own community event
– do random acts of kindness for people in your community
– organize a community clean up day with your neighbours