Random Acts of Kindness Day 2020

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day! To celebrate we wanted to provide you with some information on the benefits of giving to others and offer some ideas to bring more kindness into your life! At RandomActsofKindness.org they discuss the science of giving and offer a variety of resources to help you incorporate kindness into your every day! We will highlight some ideas here, but for more information and access to resources visit their website! There is a well known connection between giving and positive emotion. Sharing kindness and generosity promotes feelings of happiness and positively impacts both the person who is giving and receiving. People who give regularly are believed to be the happiest overall. Giving to others can help improve self-esteem, increase optimism, help you feel more energized, reduce feelings of depression, and induce pleasure. Acts of kindness can also reduce stress and anxiety, among many other positive benefits!

There are many different ways to incorporate more kindness into your life. Consider things that someone else has done that helped you or made you feel good. The size of the act you do does not change the meaning behind it, so think of things you can start doing easily in your regular day to day routine. If there is a program or organization you are interested in try making time in your schedule to volunteer or help out in any way that you can. Begin by doing one thing today, then challenge yourself to doing one act of kindness everyday for the next week. After that consider challenging yourself to do something everyday for a month! 29Gifts.org provides a community for people striving to give one thing away for 29 days following the book 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker. Remember that the energy and intentions you put out into the world are what will come back to you. Be mindful and set good intentions for the acts of kindness you perform. Start with what is realistic for you and challenge yourself to do a little bit more whenever possible. In time you will experience the many benefits of giving and see how the positive changes impact your own life.

Here are some ideas for you to get started with doing random acts of kindness, it does not take money or material things to make a difference! Choose something from the list or an idea of your own that you can try today!

1. Smile at someone and offer them a sincere compliment

2. Text or call a loved one and tell them how much you appreciate them

3. Donate old towels or blankets to an animal shelter

4. Let someone go in front of you in line

5. Greet the people you work with and encounter daily by name

6. Write your partner a list of things you love about them

7. Send a thank-you card or note to someone who has been there for you recently

8. Cook dinner for your family tonight

9. Buy coffee for the person behind you in line

10. Spend 10 minutes doing something kind for yourself

One way we are sharing kindness in our lives is through the Share the Meal app from the United Nations World Food Programme, for only a US$0.50 donation you can feed one child for an entire day. You can donate at any time and easily see the impact donations make. Consider challenging yourself to make a donation every time you go out to eat for the next month!

Whatever you choose to do, do it with love and kindness and continue striving to take care of your own mental health and positively impact the world around you as you go!

Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments, on instagram @renmartialarts, and through our contact page! Make kindness a part of your life today!