How to Celebrate World Kindness Day!

“How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time!” Morgan Freeman (1). 

World Kindness Day was formed in 1988 with the goal of promoting kindness throughout the world, devoted to small and large acts of kindness (2). Many people would agree that we have had a tough couple of years and even though it is getting better, a lot of us are still struggling to adapt to the new normal. Because of this, World Kindness Day could be considered more important than ever, so why not get involved. 

There are so many things that you could do to make a difference to someone else’s day, taking little effort but having a big impact. Start by thinking about what makes you feel good when you need a pick-me-up. Is it an unexpected call from a loved one, fresh flowers or a delicious, home cooked meal? Why not do one of these things for someone else this World Kindness Day? 

We have rounded up a few ideas if you are lacking inspiration: 

• Give someone you love a hug today 

Research shows that hugging can reduce stress by showing support (3). When you are feeling down or even lonely, being hugged can make you feel less alone, and this support can make problems more manageable and less overwhelming. Can you think of a friend you haven’t seen in a while? Why not ask them to meet up and welcome them with a huge hug. Or maybe there is someone you see every day but haven’t hugged in a while.  

• Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while 

We can all get caught up in the stuff we have going on. Sometimes before we know it, months have passed without speaking to someone who is important, so why not dedicate your World Kindness Day to reaching out to the people who you feel distant from. Send an individual text asking how they are doing or ask to schedule a phone call, or even a coffee date if you don’t live too far from each other. You will open up lots of conversations and you never know how much reaching out may mean to them. 

• Smile at a stranger  

The person on the other side of the road to you, sitting opposite on the bus or even stood in front of you at the coffee shop, could be having the worst day of their life or they could be having the best. This is something that you can never be sure of, however, if they are having a bad day, smiling at them could turn their whole mood around. Research also suggests that smiling at others is uplifting for you and can help you radiate positivity to others (4). 

• Surprise someone with a visit or gift 

Surprising someone with a visit may only work if you know your friend or family members full schedule so you won’t be interrupting anything, but if you do then this is a great way to celebrate World Kindness Day! Why not show up with a bottle of wine and some popcorn and settle in for a movie? 

Failing that, the next best thing could be to surprise a friend with a gift. Gift giving is an important part of human interaction and can be a great way to express your feelings when words aren’t enough (5). Your gift doesn’t have to be expensive, as it really is the thought that counts with a surprise gift. What about getting your friend a bouquet of flowers from the supermarket, or their favourite chocolate bar, just to show that you are thinking about them. 

Whatever way you decide to celebrate World Kindness Day, hopefully this will provide you with some guidance to help you show someone that you care. And remember, you can choose to be kind every day, so why not start today.