7 Ways to Carry out Random Acts of Kindness Every Day
I think most of us get caught up in our own lives, working on our jobs, and being busy, that we forget that the simplest things can have the most significant impact on someone else.
But something that I’ve realized in the last few months is that every time I help someone, I feel better about myself too.
According to research, there is a science behind the phenomenon called “loving-kindness.” It shows that learning and practicing kindness can profoundly affect your attitude, outlook, and even your health.
For that reason, look for ways to show random acts of kindness, not only to help others but to feel better with yourself too. I consider that the world would be different if we took a few minutes of our week to do something for someone else.
If you’re looking for ways to lift others, try one of these 7 ways to help people. If you can think of someone who might appreciate one of the ideas, make it your next project to brighten that person’s day.
Give a compliment about your waiter to their manager.
Many people believe that good service is only compensated by a good tip. Although it is an essential part, you can also do acts of kindness for free. One of them is to give a compliment to that person or their manager.
Giving a compliment have several benefits. For example, you boost someone’s confidence and help their brain to recondition itself to think positively. Also, research shows that a compliment on a person’s work will directly contribute to their improved performance and overall job satisfaction.
Whenever I am super nice to a person’s service and let them know that they are doing a good job, they prioritize me when I need something. Something my mother does is also be helpful with deliveries, so every time she makes an order, they try to take it as soon as possible.
Talk to a homeless person and have a normal conversation.
In 2020 there were 567,715 homeless people in America. This represents Seventeen out of every 10,000 people in the United States. Many of them are having a bad time regarding the pandemic and are mistreated by the majority of the population.
Many people believe that the only thing a homeless person wants is money or donations, but few have had a normal conversation in a long time. So talking to them about something as general as the weather or sports can make a difference in a person’s day.
Remember that we are all human at the end of the day, and we have a need to socialize as part of our mental well-being. We can also learn about them; there is a lot of homeless with good stories to share.
Send a thank-you note to a person who has helped you in the past.
When I was in school, a teacher assigned us a project about our personality, why we believe that we are the way we are, and the family members who influenced who we are now. I wrote how my father influenced many aspects of my life, including what I want to be when I grow up. The teacher was so touched that she encouraged me to tell him in a letter.
Although I thought my father knew everything I wrote there, the truth is that it was very different “just knowing it” than the way I expressed it, and we had a very special moment.
When he died in 2019 from cancer, it was a very difficult time for my family, but remembering that moment helped me psychologically to overcome this process.
Donate an old book to someone who might be interested.
Some time ago, I bought a series of books that I hated a lot. I only read the first book and didn’t want to continue reading the others, so they gathered dust in my little personal library.
One day I was browsing Twitter when I saw a picture of the book with a girl saying that she loved it but didn’t have the money to get the others. Without thinking much about it, I contacted the girl and sent her the other books.
A few days later, I read a thread from the girl telling how those books helped her grow and the teachings she left behind. Many people also commented on their experiences and thanked the girl for the review. I felt super knowing that thanks to that gesture, I was able to help her inspire herself and inspire others.
I know people who leave books in places like coffee, parks, and the subway, with a note hoping that one day it will get into the right hands.
Keep an extra umbrella at work, so you can lend it out when it rains.
When I did not have a vehicle and had to go by public transport to my work, university, and home, I always had problems when the day was rainy. I have asthma, and at that time, the salary was not enough for a taxi.
So I had to miss that day of college and come home late because I had to wait sometimes for camping. At work, a girl realized I have that problem, and from that day, every time it rains, she took me home or to college.
Now that I have a vehicle and the day is rainy, I try to find all the people who have the same problem and take them home regardless of whether I have to go far.
Many people believe that a small gesture on a bad day will be useless, but I will never forget everything she did for me, and I am trying to do the same 5 years later.
Say something encouraging to a parent who’s struggling with a kid in a public place.
Although parenting is beautiful and powerful, it is also pretty hard. Being a parent can leads to mental and physical exhaustion in many ways. In fact, one of the most commons causes of postpartum depression is because they don’t find the correct support in this period.
I used to get upset when I couldn’t enjoy a place because children were bothering me until I became an aunt. After that experience, I understood that being an aunt is not half as difficult as being a mother, although you help as much as you can.
So when I understand all the things parents do, my mentality changed.
Every time I am in a public space, and I see a mother having problems, I try to give her words of support and show her that she is doing a great job. This way, she will not feel that she is disturbing in that place.
Eventually, I would like to create awareness that parents do what they can with their children, and when we see difficult situations, we must help instead of making things complicated.
Talk to a stranger at a party or office who looks like they don’t know anyone.
When I started my dream job, I really wanted to do everything right because it was a big opportunity. What I did not imagine is that the adaptation process was going to be incredibly easy because the co-workers next to me explained everything I need to do to achieve it.
Research has shown that being systematic in onboarding brings new employees up to speed 50% faster, which means they’re more quickly and efficiently able to contribute to achieving desired goals. Effective onboarding also dramatically reduces failure rates and increases employee engagement and retention.
Thanks to that experience, I decided to take charge of helping and supporting all the new developers who entered the company, and I even got a promotion for my great performance.
Final thoughts
Random acts of kindness are double wins. The person you are being nice to benefits from your help. You feel good about helping someone. And the world is a better place because of your kindness.
Never underestimate the impact of a single act of kindness. Sometimes we think that doing little will not benefit someone else, but I think those little details are what make a big change in a person’s mindset.
If you are looking for ways to be generous with someone, here are the 7 ways to do it summarized:
Give a compliment about your waiter to their manager. This can positively impact their mind and performance.
Talk to a homeless person and have a normal conversation. We are social beings, and we need to feel relevant in someone’s life.
Send a thank-you note to a person who has helped you in the past.
Donate an old book to someone who might be interested. Even though people know it, acknowledging that they have been good people to someone has a positive impact.
Keep an extra umbrella at work, so you can lend it out when it rains. Small details make a big impact on people.
Say something encouraging to a parent who’s struggling with a kid in a public place.
Talk to a stranger at a party or office who looks like they don’t know anyone. Having someone willing to help makes things much easier.
The original post is at: https://medium.com/curious/7-ways-to-carry-out-random-acts-of-kindness-every-day-854e2e257c0b
