In our world today, it is easy to keep to yourself, or say you will be kind when you have the time, or to think helping someone isn't worth your time. I even admit to being guilty of these thoughts myself. Our competitive society tells us that helping someone else doesn't help you. Well, there is another side to that story. Helping other helps everyone.
"A rising tide lifts all boats" ~ John F. Kennedy
Being kind to other people is proven to make you happier. Its true!
Studies found that performing multiple acts of kindness every week for as little as 10 days in a row will have a significant positive effect on your happiness. The most happiness was reported from those who kept with the acts of kindness for longer!
Part of the happiness comes from changing up how you help people. Doing the same thing, even if it makes you happy, for a long time eventually loses its newness and excitement because it because regular, day-to-day, routine.
Mixing things up and introducing novelty into how you perform acts of kindness was found to be an important part of making someone happier in this study. Trying to find a new way to help someone everyday, eve in a small way, can help keep you feeling your most happy and while helping others. Kindness makes the world go round.
So be kind to yourself and do something nice for someone else!
Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
-offer to walk your neighbors dog
-clean a parking lot of litter
-offer to watch your neighbors kids
-make cards for a nursing home, or just for people you care about
-make masks for your local community outreach
-check in on those who are the most socially isolated
-buy flowers for someone who needs them
-help a neighbor move
-volunteer at a local community outreach (church, YMCA, lions club, etc)