Today is World Kindness Day! This is the perfect time to consider how we can all be a little kinder to others, whether that's complete strangers or our friends and family.
This awareness day was first formed in 1998. It aims to promote kindness throughout the world, and it is observed every year on 13 November. There are lots of resources and ideas for schools and organisations to celebrate this special day.
On 9 November, the world also celebrated Social Media Kindness Day. I think we can all admit that social media and online spaces can be terrible for our mental health- and not everyone is their kindest, best self online.
From nasty comments to cyber-bullying, it's important to understand how to be kind online.
In this post, I've put together 5 small ways to show kindness online this World Kindness Day. Kindness, empathy and compassion are skills that we should all be using every single day of the year.
1. Send a kind message
First and foremost, reaching out to someone online is a super kind way to show them that they have your support or compassion.
This could be a loved one who is going through a hard time, or someone who you haven't seen for a while.
It could also be someone you only know online, such as another blogger. For example, if a blogger posts that they aren't doing too well, you could reach out to show that you care or even just to send a virtual hug.
That person might not want to respond, but you never know when your message could help someone feel better. A little kindness goes a long way!
2. Give a compliment!
Let's be honest, we all like to hear something good about ourselves!
Give someone a compliment online to make their day. You could leave a comment on an Instagram picture, compliment someone's new blog post or just give someone a shout-out for being a good friend.
Giving compliments is one of the smallest but most meaningful ways to show kindness to anyone. You might not remember your kind words in a couple of months, but that person will always remember what you said about them.
3. Share someone's work
Social media and online spaces are there to create a sense of community- and this is the perfect place to share someone's work.
Whether you're a small business owner or blogger, it always feels good when someone shares your work.
Show a little kindness by making someone feel good about their work and helping them reach out to more people!
4. Stop yourself
It goes without saying that getting involved in an online argument is futile- and you'll end up doing more harm than good for yourself and others.
If someone has tweeted about a topic you are passionate about, or someone sends you a nasty comment, you might want to fight back.
However, one of the best ways to be kind online is to take a step back. Stop yourself from engaging. You never know all the context behind someone's comment, and it's always best to take a break before getting involved.
Be kind to yourself and others by moving away from any controversial or upsetting situations. Your mental health will thank you for it!
5. Don't talk about other people
It's a good rule for life, but one of the best ways to be kind online is to avoid talking about other people.
Don't tweet mean things about your friends and family, or even a celebrity. You never know who could read your online post, and who could be hurt by it.
We all get angry or frustrated from time to time, but committing your thoughts to an online space can be more hurtful than speaking to someone face to face about any issues you might be facing.
It can be really hard to navigate online spaces, but there are lots of ways to be kind to yourself and others online. It's always important to think about your actions- and encourage kindness whenever you can.
How are you promoting kindness this World Kindness Day? Do you have any ideas for small acts of kindness? Let me know in the comments!
Love, Sarah xoxoxo
