Take the time to get ready for your Positivity Pledge and plan out your month!
Plan your calendar of activities and be sure you have the supplies you need.
Send a text, DM, email to let your friends and family know you’re participating in the Positivity Pledge and invite them to join you
Send an eCard and let your family, friends, classmates, or others know that you are thinking about them, their mental health and want them to join you - Jib Jab (funny), Hallmark, American Greetings
Week 1: Nutrition & Well-Being
May 2 - Post Something on Social Media
Share that you’ve taken the Positivity Pledge with friends & family and encourage them to join you!
May 3 - Learn about the connection between nutrition and mental health. Share it.
Play “Good Mental Health is for Everyone Jeopardy” with friends or family or by yourself. Play here
Check out our Depression Toolbox for additional information.
May 5 - Spread the love by sending out a healthy snack to those in need.
If you are able to, put your baking skills to use and bake healthy goods to donate to a local hospital, police station or fire station (make sure they will accept homemade items)
Order a meal from a local restaurant to be delivered to the local hospital, police station, or fire station.
Purchase a few extra cans of food for a nearby food pantry.
May 6 - Find a relaxing activity and focus on me-time.
Create a photo book, or at least start the process. It could be related to a time period, age, or theme.
Start a healthy recipe book that you can use whenever you cook.
Take a walk, Sit outside
Write a journal entry
Pop some popcorn and watch your favorite movie
May 7 - Prepare a healthy meal for your family/friends.
Plan a healthy meal for your family and if possible, prepare and cook.
Create a menu for the entire day, and if possible, prepare and cook.
Share recipes with your family and friends around the world you can all cook and eat together.
Find a local, healthy restaurant you can support for dinner.
Order dinner from a local, healthy restaurant and have it delivered to friends or family
May 8 - Find a healthy stress reliever.
Have fun making play dough. You can even add essential oils to make aromatherapy dough! Check out recipes here
Make a Stress Ball to maintain your stress level and stay balanced. Instructions here
Consider meditation, breathing exercises or other activities that may help.
Take a walk, Sit outside
Write a journal entry
Pop some popcorn and watch your favorite movie
Week 2: Gratitude
May 9 - Share your progress!
Post a social media update for your friends and family on your progress with the Positivity Pledge!
Share with your family and friends what you are grateful for to kick off gratitude week.
Make sure to tag Erika’s Lighthouse
May 10 - Identify your trusted friends, family, adults.
Write down 3 trusted family members, friends or adults you could go to if you were feeling down and needed help. Thank them!
Tag them on social media to boost their spirits and know you care.
May 11 - Make a list of who/what you are grateful for...
Create a vision board of all the things you are looking forward to in the coming months. Get started here
Start a Gratitude Jar or Gratitude Journal and see if you can do it for the entire month! Read more here
May 12 - Show your gratitude.
Offer to help an elderly neighbor in their yard. Keep your distance!
Send a card to a local nursing home letting the nurses, staff and/or residents
Send a card to the local hospital, police station, fire station with words of thanks
May 13 - Make a list of traits you love about yourself.
Think about what you love about yourself and write them down. They can be about your personality, appearance, morals and ethics, beliefs or anything! Nothing is too small to appreciate.
May 14 - Make a connection.
Set up a video chat with family or friends while eating, playing a game, or watching a show and feel like you are together.
Reach out to an extrovert that may be struggling right now.
May 15 - Make a list of the traits you love about someone else.
Think about what you love about someone else and write it down! It can be about their personality, appearance, morals and ethics, beliefs or anything! Nothing is too small to appreciate. Consider sharing it with them.
Week 3: Exercise
May 16 - Remind folks about your pledge!
Send an email to your friends, family, coworkers and others on your commitment to the Positivity Pledge!
Post on social media about your pledge
Make sure to tag Erika’s Lighthouse
May 17 - Learn about the connection between exercise and mental health. Share it.
Share on social media 2-3 ways to improve your mental health
Get some markers or colored pencils and choose a teenage coloring page! Check them out here
Sit outside
Listen to relaxing music
May 26 - Perform kindness.
Spread goodness through five random acts of kindness online, at the grocery or with neighbors.
Send random gift cards, flowers or other special treats to people you love.
May 27 - Self-Reflect.
Stress is normal, but too much stress increases the risk for health problems like depression. Name 4 things that can cause stress and how you can avoid them!
Explain how you know you are stressed. How do you experience it in your body? Why is it important to be aware of your own personal stress indicators?
After naming 4 things that caused stress, now list 4 ways to avoid or reduce stress in your life.
May 28 - Reach out to someone in need.
Go to Teenson ErikasLighthouse.org to learn about depression, what it looks like and how to help yourself or a friend in need.
Do you have a friend you are worried about? Read more about how to help a friend in need. Then reach out to them! Read here
May 29 - Meditate and chill
Download a relaxation or meditation app such as Headspace, Calm, Colorfy or Stop, Breathe & Think.
Download a meditation app and try it out as a healthy coping strategy.Read about it here
Closing
May 30 - Share a recap.
Send a recap to your family and friends about how the Positivity Pledge changed your outlook!
Identify three activities you are going to try to make part of your routine.
May 31 - Reflect & Change
Tag Us! - #PositivityPledge
Throughout May remember to tag Erika's Lighthouse on social media!
