Every November, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation celebrates World Kindness Day. Their goal may sound small: to promote small acts of goodwill toward others. The truth is at each and every step they encourage others to take moves the world toward a better place. In fact, they’re trying to make themselves obsolete by turning kindness into the default mode for every human being!
The best part of their plan is that you can do it anywhere and at any time. It can be directed toward total strangers or your dearest loved one. It can be big or small. It just has to be kind. In the spirit of their mission, we’ve pulled together a list of random acts of kindness that you can do today, right now. Pick one, or try to knock all of them out by the end of the day!
Do you live with a partner, your children or roommates? Try setting them up for a kinder day with a small gesture that shows you care. Take care of a task you know they hate. Fix a problem that’s been bugging them. Compliment them on something you know they take pride in. If you live solo, try this out on a neighbor, or send a message to a friend first thing. The best part is that it’ll set the tone for both your day and theirs.
Commute With Compassion
Rush hour is likely the last place you’re going to want to be nice to others. If you make sure to leave the house just 5 minutes earlier, it’ll be that much easier to make time for kindness. What about letting people merge in front of you on the road? Or making sure others get on the bus before you if it’s cold outside? Don’t let the stress of your commute kill your good vibes. Oh, and if you normally drive to work, consider an eco-friendly option. You might just find that you enjoy the process a little bit more if you’re not the one driving.
Wherever you spend the bulk of your waking hours, there are likely a few people who could be on the receiving end of your kindness. That could be your coworkers or custodians in your building. It might be your children or their friends. Perhaps it’s the mail person delivering a package. Try thinking up ways to make their days brighter. If you’re an educator, Random Acts of Kindness has resources just for you!
More Than People
Random acts of kindness don’t need to be reserved for other humans, either. At least not directly. What do we mean by that? Maybe you take your dog on a walk when you get home. Or you choose to walk to lunch instead of drive to be kind to the environment. You could even plant a tree on your weekend. It’s amazing what the act of giving can do for your own state of mind!