Easy ways to give back in your day-to-day life

It’s fair to say that if the world ever needed a little extra kindness, it does right now. While 2020 probably hasn’t gone the way any of us planned, there are still plenty of opportunities to give back and spread positivity as we head into the giving season, and we thought World Kindness Day the perfect time to start.
   
We’ve put together five easy ways for you to incorporate giving back into your day-to-day life – why not challenge yourself to give back every day until opening that first Advent Calendar door in December?

Always start with kindness

Giving back doesn’t have to mean giving money – simply trying to respond to all situations with kindness first is a truly powerful way of not only turning around your perspective but changing countless lives too. You never know what someone might be going through (especially now), and your choice to be kind could be worth more to someone than any amount of money you could give.

Shop online with purpose

Online shopping is fun and convenient in normal times, but especially as we continue to stay at home as much as possible. Whether completing your Christmas shopping or treating yourself, look for charity collaborations or ethically sourced products (you’d be surprised how many gorgeous options there are!) and, of course, we recommend Advent of Change for all your festive needs!
   
With the help of sites such as Give as you Live Online, you can also raise money for charity while you browse, at no extra cost to you –  And there are plenty of ways you can give back in your everyday shopping too – choosing second-hand or charity shops and small businesses over ‘fast fashion’ where you can, for example, gives back to worthy causes and the environment at the same time.   

Live by the ‘five-minute’ rule

The ‘five-minute’ rule is a simple mantra that’s loved by thousands of organisers and cleaning enthusiasts – and it’s really easy to add into your lifestyle. The mantra is simply ‘if a job can be done in five minutes, do it immediately’ and we think it’s the perfect way to start giving back every day. For example, if you see a piece of litter on the ground, notice that your friend’s counters could use a wipe down while you’re over for a coffee, or notice your supermarket’s food donation bin is a little low, do something about it right there and then. By splitting your ‘good deeds’ into five-minute chunks, it no longer feels so daunting and
you’ll be surprised by how much good you can do for others!   

Support your local community

You don’t have to go to local council meetings, run support groups or volunteer at your local community centre to give back locally (although those things are amazing, too!) – you can simply make a few small changes such as shopping at local businesses or picking up one or two extra items to donate to your foodbank in your weekly shop to make a positive difference.   

Perform random acts of kindness

Random acts of kindness are the perfect way to practice giving back every day, especially if you’re nervous about doing so publicly. From paying for an extra coffee when you go out as a nice surprise for the next customer to offering to cut/water your neighbour’s lawn, it’s all about spotting opportunities to help one another out and taking them. If you’re scared by the idea of walking up to strangers, you could start by doing things for people you know like sending them a letter or doing some small errands for them. You might be surprised by how
addictive kind acts can be!
   
We’d love to hear about how you plan to start giving back in your everyday life, so don’t forget to follow let us know how you get on over on our social channels with #AdventOfChange…

Hands with heart - world kindness day