YOUR 2024 BRAIN BRAWN MINI RESOLUTION SPECIAL EDITION! WORLD KINDNESS DAY

Be Kind this World Kindness Day, November 13th, 2024

"Happiness is the new rich. Inner peace is the new success. ​​Health is the new wealth. Kindness is the new cool."
 
-Syed Balkhi, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

​With a cantankerous election almost behind us, it seems fitting to observe World Kindness Day coming up on Wednesday, November 13th. We know it is a week away, but let’s plan ahead and turn some of this negative energy around by finding ways to be kind!
 
Kindness doesn't only benefit the recipient of the act, but science tells us being kind to others actually imparts health benefits upon the bestowed in part by redirecting negative thoughts and emotions into positive ones, thereby: 

• Increased serotonin production, leading to feelings of calm and enhanced self-esteem
• Increased production of oxytocin (AKA the love hormone), which can lower blood pressure
• ​Reduced cortisol production, the stress hormone, which we know from September’s Motivated Mondays is neurodegenerative
• Increased production of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels lowering blood pressure

As important as the immediate benefits are to you and the recipient of your behavior, kind behavior begets more kind behavior. As American Author Scott Adams said, "Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end."

This week, brainstorm ways to practice acts of kindness on November 13th, for World Kindness Day. 

Here are a few ideas—which vary from simple to going the extra mile—to help you get started:
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• Let someone jump ahead of you in line at the store.
  
  
• Leave a big tip for your server, barista, hairdresser, or other service people.
  
  
• Someone behind you in line for your morning coffee? Pay for their coffee!
  
  
• Add time to expired meters.
  
  
• Write notes to seniors in nursing homes.
  
  
• Encourage your children or grandchildren to donate their allowance to a charity.
  
  
• Invite an elderly neighbor to join your family for dinner. This can make a big impact as you may recall from our August micro-resolution, which focused on loneliness and social isolation.
  
  
• Offer to go to the store or complete an errand for a neighbor.
  
  
• Write notes to our servicemen and women.
  
  
• Give a compliment to a stranger.
  
  
• Cook up extra portions of meals and share them with an elderly neighbor.
  
  
• Offer free babysitting for a night.
  
  
• Provide a meal or snack to your local fire department
  
  
• Clean out your closets and donate items to the Salvation Army or a local charity of your choice.
  
  
• Walk someone’s shopping cart back for them.
  
  
• Allow cars to merge in front of you.
  
  
• Volunteer to walk dogs at your local animal shelter.
  
  
• Donate old towels, blankets, stacks of newspapers and cleaning supplies to a local animal shelter.
  
  
• Bake cookies for the office (or if you live in an apartment building, for the building staff or your neighbors).
  
  
• Donate time to clean up your local park, beach, etc. on your own or with a local volunteer organization.
  
  
• Hold open the door or elevator.
  
  
• Offer to take a neighbor’s dog for a walk.
  
  
• Offer to wash a neighbor’s car.
  
  
• Donate blood (if you are able).
  
  
• Give up your seat on the bus, train, subway etc.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

YOUR SPECIAL EDITION RESOLUTION: ACTS OF KINDNESS

For the next week, brainstorm different ways to practice kindness on November 13th to honor the day. And until then, continue logging all your past resolutions!
Click to view and download the log.