10 random acts of kindness you can accomplish any day
The 17th of February is Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Introducing more kindness into the lives of those around you, as well as your own life, is key to developing a positive mental attitude and spreading some much-needed love.
To celebrate the day, we’ve come up with 10 types of random acts you could carry out. Try to do one or more of these things and spread the love. Why not try to do something relating to all 10?
Talk to someone
One of the easiest things you can do to spread kindness is to talk. Letting someone express their emotions can really brighten their day.
Ask a friend or family member what they have been up to, show some interest in their day. Talk to someone you wouldn’t usually talk to or someone who seems lonely. Why not visit and elderly relative and ask them to share some stories with you. You can also use talking to give someone some helpful advice or to make someone laugh who may need it. Allow someone to open up to you in conversation, be a shoulder to cry on.
Leave a message
We can’t always spread kindness by talking face to face, so we can write down a kind message instead.
Leave a glowing review of something you bought online, or a hotel or restaurant you went to. Send a text or email to someone who lives far away that you would like to catch up with. Send a thank-you note to someone who did something nice for you. You could also send someone a gift with a note attached. Have some fun by leaving a secret positive message for someone to find, maybe by your letterbox for the postman or in a book for a like-minded reader.
Give money
They say that money makes the world go around, don’t they? Well then passing on some of your own funds can be one of the kindest things to do for someone.
Why not leave the server a big tip after a meal out. Instead of shopping at a chain, shop at a local business and help them to grow. Donate some money to a charity that means something to you, or just a random one you’ve never donated to before. Maybe you could start a fundraiser or a piggy bank for a new cause. Why not buy someone something you know they would like, but can't afford?
Give something away
Other people sometimes need things more than you do, look at what you have and consider giving something away.
Donating old books to a local library or school is a good idea, while you’re at the school why not see if they need any old toys or sports equipment. You can donate old or unwanted clothes to a charity, or to someone you know who they would fit. Donate some food to a homeless shelter or food bank. You could also reuse some old wrapping paper to give a gift to someone new, or get creative by using your unneeded cards and newspapers.
Spread knowledge
Educating others, so that they can grow their mind and therefore their outlook on life is a very kindly pursuit.
Volunteer to read to children or teach a lesson at a learning centre. You could also buy some informational books for a library or school. Try teaching someone you love a new skill that you have perfected, or you can both learn a new skill together. If you’re in education, why not share your study notes with someone who may be struggling or offer to help them practice for an exam. If someone is new to your area, you could offer them your knowledge of the best places to go and things to do.
Be kind with food
We all love food, so there are plenty of things you can do with food to help brighten other people’s day.
Firstly, try cooking a meal for someone, even if you’re not a good cook. It doesn’t have to be a full meal, why not just bake a cake or a dessert? You could also offer to try someone else’s cooking. If you have a favourite recipe, perhaps an old family one, you could teach someone else to make it. You could go vegan or vegetarian for a day to help the environment, or to help the local community, eat locally sourced food. Recommend a good place to eat or a new type of cuisine to a friend.
Keep clean
Everyone loves a clean and tidy space, making places tidy is very helpful for other people, but also kind to yourself.
Start by cleaning your house, especially communal areas like the kitchen and living room. You can also offer to help someone else do the cleaning. When you eat out, you can give the servers a hand by stacking your plates and helping tidy the table. If you’re at the gym, wipe down the equipment when you’ve finished with it so other people can use it. why not volunteer to litter pick in your local park or remove dead plants and weeds. You can do the same in your garden to keep it tidy. You could help to tidy up at work or school at the end of the day.
Plant something
It’s not just people that you can treat with kindness, you can treat the earth well too. You can be kind to the natural world around you by adding something new to it.
Why not plant a tree in your garden, or contribute one to a local park or forest? If there isn’t a local green space, you could start a community garden. Help the earth become more sustainable by planting fruits and vegetables, or herbs. Planting can also be good for other people too, beautify someone else’s space by planting flowers there. You can share your homegrown produce with other people and spread a sustainable lifestyle.
Help the environment
Planting things isn’t the only way you can be kind to the environment. Take steps to solve environmental issues in your area, or even globally.
Look through your rubbish and sort out everything that can be recycled, offer to do the same for others too. You can also pick up any rubbish you see when you’re out and about. Instead of taking the car, why not ride a bike or walk to your destination. Start using energy-efficient light bulbs and turn off your electricity when you’re not using it. You can save paper by getting email receipts for purchases and paying bills online.
Help an animal
As well as people and plants, animals are in need of a little kindness. Do something nice for your pets or for the local wildlife.
Go to a local shelter and adopt a pet if you can, or just volunteer to help them out. You can also donate things to the shelter, like blankets or old toys. Offer to look after someone’s pets while they are out, or away. Leave food out in the garden for birds and other local wildlife. If you are out in the wild, be respectful of the wildlife by observing from a distance and not encroaching on their habitats. Why not donate to a wildlife charity?
Remember, even though the 17th is the day to perform a random act (or 10), you should try and do something kind as often as possible, if not every day.
Keep this list in mind when going about your everyday life, and when you spot a situation where a random act can brighten someone’s day or help the world around you, go for it!
