Is it just us or could World Kindness Day not come at a better time this year? 2019 has been full of ups and down and we’ve really gone through it. But that’s not to say there isn’t kindness out there, we just need to look a little harder for it. Do a quick Google search and you’ll find all sorts of kindness quotes and random acts of kindness, and while some may seem obvious, we all need a reminder, right? So to get you in the spirit, we’ve rounded up our top ten (easy) steps to kindness…
1. Pass on a book you’ve just read…
This is one of our favourites. Good Reads is all well and, well, good but there’s nothing like a friend or colleague recommending a book, just for you. It’s that extra level of personalisation we love. Whether you end up reading it in two days and loving every minute or wondering why they loved it so much, we’re all about those thoughtful acts. And don’t get us started on book swaps…they’re our haven.
2. Hold a door open…
This one seems like common sense, but we’ve all been on the receiving end of someone not holding the door - it’s enough to put anyone in a bad mood for the rest of the afternoon. We get it, you’ve got places to be, but it takes less than 60 seconds to hold it open for the person behind you. Even if they’re a bit too far behind and they end up doing that awkward jog/run and apologising. It’s nice to be nice.
3. Buy someone a coffee…
Whether you’re an avid coffee drinker and spend at least £10 on your daily caffeine fixes or try to steer clear of the cost and bring in your KeepCup, when you’re on the receiving end of a freebie, it makes you all warm inside - and not just from the hot foam. From your work wife to a homeless person, treating someone to a free coffee or tea really shows you care. They might be having the worst day ever, the best day ever or just an average Wednesday. But trust us, they’ll love it.
4. Compliment someone…
These days it seems so easy to compliment someone, you only have to double tap their Insta pic, right? But there’s something about hearing a compliment that just gives your day that little extra boost. And it feels good to give a compliment too. Whether you loved the gym class you’ve just done and want to let the instructor know instead of your group chat, haven’t stopped staring at a person’s trainers on the tube or have read an amazing article and want to DM the writer, going the extra mile will brighten their day and yours.
5. Give away your old clothes…
It feels like we’re always shopping. From avidly scrolling on your lunch hour for those last minute Saturday night out outfits to just popping into the shopping mall at the weekend and coming out armed with bags, it’s no wonder our wardrobes are bursting at the seams. So when you’re in need of a clear out, grab the bin bags and either get your friends round for a clothes swap, sell them on or drop them off at your local charity shop. Job done.
6. Use your manners…
We might be sounding like your grandparents here (sorry not sorry) but saying please and thank you is something many of us forget about in our daily interactions. It’s not that we’re rude, it’s just more widely accepted to drop them so that when someone actually uses them, we’re a little shook. Whether it’s sending an email at work, asking to borrow something off your friend or saying thanks to the bus driver at rush hour, being polite and using your manners can go a long way.
7. Listen to someone…
It seems like we have more distractions that ever. From having our phone glued to our hand, emails coming at us left right and centre and Twitter notifications always popping up, we can all safely say we may not pay attention all of the time. When a friend, family member or colleague is in need, taking out ten minutes (sans smart phone) can really make a difference.
8. Let someone go ahead of you…
We may be the only nation who love to queue. Especially in supermarkets. And just when you’ve loaded up the conveyor belt with your weekly food shop, the person behind you squeezes on one jar of coffee and a paper. You might need to dash off or could really do without it, but letting someone go in front of you in the queue always makes someone’s day. And the next time you’ve just popped in for teabags and are at the back of the queue, karma will (hopefully) have your back…
9. Smile…
And last but by no means least, smile. We’ve all seen the quotes about how many muscles it uses, just think of it as exercise if nothing else. We may be suffering from a serious case of Resting B*tch Face most of the time but leave people surprised and show off your pearly whites from time to time. You won’t regret it.
10. Give up your seat…
When you’ve got a long old commute, the prospect of bagging a free seat is enough to make anyone break into a smile. And while you may be sat engrossed in a book or podcast (and feeling a lil’ smug about it), make sure you occasionally go into meerkat mode and look round to see if there’s anyone else who needs the seat more than you. Granted, you’ll probably have a mini back and forth of “no you have it” and “ no, no you, I insist!” but the end result means you’ve helped someone who may be less able, pregnant or just looks like they need a breather.