Today is World Kindness Day (13 November) and what better way to celebrate it than by being kind to yourself and others. More often than not, the little ways of being kind can actually speak volumes and may even leave a lasting impression or at least make people feel good about themselves.
So with that in mind, here are 6 ways to be kind and do you know the best bit? You can do it all every day!
- Hold the door open for someone
Imagine this – its rush hour in University Place and everyone is trying to get to their next lecture. While it may not seem like a big deal to do, holding the door open for the person either behind or in-front of you can actually mean a lot. Usually those types of situations can be quite stress-inducing and even the smallest of actions can help.
- Give up your seat on the bus
It’s as simple as that. If you see someone standing, move your bag from the seat and offer them the chance to have a sit down. Better still, if you see an elderly person get on the bus – give up your seat for them. Even if they refuse, it’s still nice to ask and may help someone feel more comfortable on their journey home.
- Make your housemate a cup of tea
Next time you pop the kettle on; ask your housemates or family if they fancy a cup of tea. If anything else, it gives you the chance to catch-up or have a break from studying over a nice brew – just don’t forget the biscuits!
- Treat yourself
If you’re on your way home from lectures and are feeling a bit tired or even stressed, think about a way you can treat yourself. Whether it’s by stopping by the supermarket for your favourite dinner, running yourself a bubble bath or by watching your favourite film – these are all ways you can feel good and kind to yourself. Go on and treat yourself, after all you do deserve it!
- Say something nice to someone
A “hello”, “how are you?”, “thank you” or “have a nice day!” can go a long a way. Make an effort today to say something nice to someone – whether it’s by acknowledging the bus driver, chatting to the supermarket cashier, talking to a homeless person or by calling your friend from back home.
- Think of the positives
Often in life, we can have the tendency to dwell on the negatives. Whether it’s complaining about the weather or by detracting compliments that others may give is. It is a difficult habit to break out of but to do so, think of at least 5 positive things each day.
You may feel proud and happy that you woke up early and had breakfast, went for a workout, made a tasty dinner, laughed with a friend or achieved a great mark in your assignments. Make a note each day of the positive things or think about them before you go to sleep – it will make you feel great about yourself.