Kindness in less than five minutes

Kindness in less than five minutes

If you can volunteer, donate organs or large sums of money, that’s great, but kindness doesn’t have to require a lot of time, money or effort. Here are some ways you can practice being more kind in less than five minutes a day:

• Send a thank you email to someone you’ve worked with
• Offer a compliment to a stranger
• Make a cup of tea for a colleague
• Buy a small gift for a friend or donate on their behalf
• Make a point of smiling at five people on the street
• Think about something you’re grateful for
• Text a family member to let them know you appreciate them

Kindness really is important. It builds our empathy, fosters deeper relationships, incites positive feelings and promotes good heart health. It’s contagious, too – by being kind, you’ll influence the people around you to be kinder, giving them all the aforementioned benefits, too.

• Secret Kindness Agent: Encourage kids to become “Secret Kindness Agents.” Provide them with small cards or notes and ask them to perform acts of kindness secretly. They can leave uplifting messages, drawings, or small gifts for family members, friends, or even strangers. The element of surprise adds an exciting twist to spreading kindness.
• Kindness Cards: Encourage kids to design and make their own kindness cards. These can be small, wallet-sized cards with messages like “You’re Awesome!” or “Have a Great Day!” Children can carry these cards and give them to friends, family members, or even strangers they meet during the day.
• Kindness Chain: Cut strips of coloured paper and have kids write down acts of kindness they’ve performed or experienced on each strip. Link the strips together to create a “Kindness Chain” that can be hung in their room or a communal area.
• Kindness Rocks: Painting and decorating rocks with kind messages or inspirational quotes is a creative way for kids to share positivity. Once the rocks are ready, take a family trip to a nearby park or public space and hide them for others to discover. You can also encourage children to look for kindness rocks left by others.

Here are some resources for you to download, use and share

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