Pre-plan your random acts of kindness!

Greek fabulist Aesop once said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Kindness costs nothing and can really make a difference– not just to the people around us, but to ourselves and our precious planet.

February 17th is officially National Random Acts of Kindness Day. So, what better opportunity to embark on a kindness mission and potentially make someone’s day, week, month or even year!?

Random sometimes works, but if you like to plan ahead like us and are after some inspiration, here are some ideas:

Be kind to yourself

We all lead hectic lives and that often means we don’t get to enjoy enough ‘me’ time. But it’s really important for our health that we give ourselves a break – so, it’s time to start looking after number one!

You might choose to be kinder to yourself physically by spending more time in the great outdoors, eating well, or signing up to a new exercise class, for example. Or you might focus on your mindset: you are your own greatest critic, so respect yourself, acknowledge achievements and forgive past mistakes. Practice mindfulness, using apps such as Headspace, as a way of paying more attention to your thoughts and feelings, as this can really give your mental well-being a boost.

Be kind to others

There’s an almost limitless list of ways you can be kind to other people. It might be as simple as smiling at someone on the Tube, opening a door for a stranger or offering to help an elderly person with their shopping bags.

If quality family time has been lacking lately, make National Random Acts of Kindness Day all about the people you love. Compliment your other half, spend time playing with your kids or cook a meal all of you can sit down and eat together, without the distractions of technology. This is your chance to phone up a friend and tell them how much they mean to you, or make amends with someone you haven’t contacted in years. Hopefully, these habits will continue long after National Random Acts of Kindness Day is over...

Be kind to the planet

Last year, Forbes shared research which revealed that, globally, humans buy one million plastic bottles every minute – and, even more shockingly, that 91% of all plastic is not recycled. Instead, it ends up in landfill and in our oceans, where it’s suffocating marine life. One of the best things you can do to be kinder to the planet is to limit plastic use: ditch carrier bags, buy package-free fruit and veg and invest in a good reusable water bottle.

Speaking of reusables, another way you can be kinder to the planet is to make the switch from single-use batteries to rechargeable ones. Over 20,000 tonnes of batteries are sent to landfill sites in the UK every year, says Recycle More, which is consuming valuable space and releasing nasty toxins into the environment. Rechargeable batteries are a much greener choice. You’ll save money too (and have a clearer conscience). So, tell us: which not-so-random acts of kindness will you be carrying out this month...?