Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Being kind, it is straightforward, right? One of the first things you learn when you’re a kid is that being friendly, generous and considerate help make the world a nicer place to live and make getting through the day a little bit easier.
As we’re spending most of our time inside now, you might have to search harder for ways to be kind. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:
Be a Virtual Volunteer
Volunteering your time and expertise to a worthy cause is a great way to be kinder to the world, but how do you go about making the world a better place when you’re stuck inside? Volunteering virtually has become very popular in lockdown, the United Nations has a portal to connect you with the volunteering organisation and even the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C is on the lookout for virtual volunteers to help digitise their records.
Checking In
In our third lockdown, we are feeling more detached than ever and finding ways to reconnect can be challenging. It can take a whole new level of energy to reach out to the people in your life. So, an incredibly kind thing you could try is to check up on people that you haven’t interacted with in a while. It might just be as simple as texting a dead group chat, or maybe you could arrange a Zoom session with some old friends or distant relatives. Being the person to take the first step could help to spread a little kindness at the loneliest times.
Give up the Negative Speak
Make a pledge to stop talking about people or views negatively. Spreading gossip and talking negatively about the people in the world can leave you feeling negative about the person you’re talking about and leave other people feeling negatively about you. Aim to be more understanding of people’s circumstances. Next time those negative thoughts creep on you, ask yourself why you feel tempted to say those things.
Remember the Little Things
Everyone appreciates the small gestures, and they go such a long way. Make your flatmate a brew, pay a stranger a compliment, send someone a thoughtful text; there are so many things that lift a person’s mood and turn their day around.
Donate
If you’re looking around your room and notice that there are a dozen things you no longer use, then maybe consider donating them.
Although many charity shops are now closed, they are still accepting donations and will likely appreciate it during these times. Having a sort out can make things clearer for yourself, and you can help a charity you care about in the process.
Being Kind to Yourself
It sounds simple written down, but it can be challenging to be kind to yourself. Start with little things – avoiding self-criticism and telling yourself three things you like about yourself every morning. You can then try other things to see what puts you most at ease. Is it taking a long bath, or drinking enough water? Maybe it’s putting time aside to read a new book, or catching up on your favourite TV show? It’s all about looking inwards and discovering what makes you feel better about yourself.
Kindness is an incredible motivator and making a conscious decision to do something kind every day will help make the world a better place. So why not spread a little kindness today?
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