World Kindness Day is just around the corner, and with the holiday season nearing quickly, it is the perfect time to get outside and spread some of your kindness. Luckily, it doesn’t cost money to be kind, so you’re already off to a great start. These ten ideas will help you further spread the kindness you have so that other people can truly benefit from everything that you have to offer. So, enjoy this holiday for all that it’s worth as this is the last holiday you might get to enjoy that doesn’t involve spending money.
1. Donate toys
Since the holidays are coming up, one of the best things you can do is donate some toys. Of course, purchasing new toys is always appreciated, but in most cases, you can simply go through your children’s toys to find the items they no longer play with. You might be surprised by how easy it is to find items in your children’s rooms that they no longer play with. If you rotate toys, it may even be easier than ever as many children will forget all about the excess toys that they have. Donating toys to your local church or thrift store can help children that normally would go without having some presents to enjoy. There are many charities, like Toys for Tots, that will gladly take any unpackaged toy you may have or purchase, so if you are looking to spend money this is a great way to do it.
2. Bring Someone Lunch
Sharing food is one of the best ways to show a little love. So, if you’re looking to be kind then you might choose a person to share your lunch with. It doesn’t matter who you share your lunch with either. If you have to work on this day, then you might consider bringing in a lunch for a colleague. If you’re off and your parents live nearby then perhaps you may want to whip them up a delicious lunch. There are also people in need that could benefit from a nice lunch, even if it is just a sacked lunch. Sharing lunch doesn’t have to be pricey, so if you’re on a tight budget don’t feel that you have to purchase food from a restaurant.
3. Clean Up a Park
Another great act of kindness you can try out is cleaning up a park. All you’ll need for this activity is bags and gloves, so you will spend next to nothing. If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands then half an hour to an hour of cleaning up can actually do a world of good. This good deed will make your community look amazing while helping children to play in a clean environment. On top of that, this will help the environment immensely. It can even help to keep birds and other animals safe, especially as they prepare to migrate or settle in for the winter months.
4. Offer to Shop for Someone
In today’s world, going out to shop can be a difficult task for so many. For the immunocompromised or those that care for young children or the elderly, shopping can be even more taxing. Unfortunately, grocery delivery can also cost a small fortune. So, if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might offer to go shopping for someone that can’t easily get out of the house. This can allow someone a little peace, especially as flu season arrives and covid is still lurking around. If you don’t know of anyone that needs assistance, then you might consider contacting a local nursing home or any care facility to see if they know of anyone in need.
5. Help Your Child’s Teacher
Another group of people that are always in need of a little help is teachers. If you have a child in school, then you might email your child’s teacher to see if you can be of assistance in the classroom. Sometimes, a teacher might need help organizing some things around the classroom or even decorating for the upcoming holiday season. However, sometimes, it might be as simple as dropping off some extra tissue paper for kids to use during the sick season. Either way, any effort is usually appreciated especially with teachers taking on so much extra. If you are dealing with in-home learning or parents aren’t currently allowed to help due to restrictions, then you might just consider sending something nice to your child’s teacher, such as a cup of coffee or a nice craft to show your appreciation.
6. Salt Sidewalks
If icy weather has already arrived in your neck of the woods, then salting the sidewalks might be one of the best acts of kindness you can do. Salting sidewalks isn’t incredibly tough to do either and won’t cost you a small fortune. Rather, it will allow you to easily feel confident that no one in your neighborhood is going to slip and fall. This can be especially great for people with small children or the elderly as it may be hard for them to get outside and salt their own sidewalks. You might even notice that your neighbors may even return the favor later on down the road.
7. Leave Positive Notes
When it comes to brightening someone’s day, one of the best things you can do is leave random notes. There are so many ways you can about this too. One of the easiest is to write out positive messages on sticky notes. Then, when you find a place that someone might need a happy note, simply stick it on and walk away. Bus stops, bathroom stalls, library books, and more are all great places to spread some cheer. If you’re not sure what to write on your notes, then there are countless ideas online. You may even find a few inspirational quotes that you’d like to share with those that may need them.
8. Volunteer
November can be a tough month for volunteer programs. A lot of people go out of town to spend time with their family while there are also more people in need during the colder seasons. So, if you have extra time on your hands, then you might want to spend it helping others. There are many great charities you can assist too. If you’re looking for something local then you might ask around at local shelters, soup kitchens, and so on. Churches will also be able to direct you in the right direction if you’re not certain of local options. There are many national options too, including the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and so much more. You might even be able to find a volunteer option that the entire family can enjoy.
9. Send Friends Kind Messages
Sometimes, our friends are truly the people that deserve an act of kindness. So, to celebrate the holiday, you might head to your favorite social media platform and send some compliments to your friends. You don’t have to go too crazy with the messages, just send some love or a positive message and enjoy making someone’s day. You might even use this to rekindle some old friendships as offering some positive words can transform the way someone feels while opening up conversations that can help you reconnect and enjoy some time chatting together.
10. Smile
Sometimes, all you need to spread a little joy is to put a smile on your face. This is probably the cheapest and most minimal way to spread some kindness on this holiday. It is scientifically shown that when a person smiles at another person, it can actually boost their happiness while helping to create a sense of trust in an individual, even if they are a stranger. By smiling at others on Kindness Day you may even make some new friends, which will make the holiday even more rewarding.
Without a doubt, a holiday like this is definitely a good thing to add just before the holiday season when everything gets chaotic. These ten ideas to help make the holiday special for those around you will definitely help you enjoy the holiday even more, too.
