Five steps to a kinder world

Put an end to kindness blindness

You might think that being kinder means a lot of work, but it really shouldn’t be. “We all do kind things all the time without even thinking about it,” says David Jamilly, founder and CEO of Kindness UK. “Smiling at strangers, making tea for coworkers, listening to a friend who is having a tough time – they all count.” When you think of it like this, undertaking more acts of kindness seems less daunting, so make a resolution to add another beyond what you usually do.

Sneak it in your schedule

Weaving acts of kindness around your everyday activities can help make them stick, says Jamilly. Popping into Pret for lunch? Pick up an extra sandwich for someone who will need it. Commuting in rush hour? Take a moment to look around – Jamilly thinks busy stations are the perfect place to sharpen your awareness of others and perform practical acts of kindness, as there is always someone who needs help with heavy luggage or needs a seat more than you.

Always pay it forward

We’ve all succumbed to ‘sidebar of shame’-style clickbait before, but if we really want to be kinder, it’s time to give damaging media up for good. “As we move deeper into a virtual world, we need positive actions and support from individuals, not just media platforms, to display kindness,” says Jamilly. After all, he explains, content is driven by engagement, so if you don’t read it, it’s less likely to get written. The result? A kinder media, and kinder world.

This is how we create a lasting culture of kindness