February 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day! To honor the day, the Kappa Kappa Psi NCDAA’s Health and Wellness Director, Hannah Trezise, will explain a bit about the impact of kindness on one’s health!
Kindness is wonderful for both the body and the mind. It has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy, and compassion, while also improving one’s mood. Showing kindness to others can also decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone. Being kind also boosts serotonin and dopamine, which can provide a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing.
Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness and enhance relationships in general. For example, volunteering and helping others can help us feel a sense of belonging, make new friends, and connect with our communities.
Here are some ideas for a random act of kindness, provided by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation:
https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-stories/113-50-ideas-for-random-acts.
Some of our personal favorites are:
· Return shopping carts for people at the grocery store.
· Encounter someone in customer service who is especially kind? Take an extra five minutes to tell their manager.
· Take muffins or cookies to your local librarians.
For more information on how kindness may affect your personal health, take a look at the following articles!
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/the-art-of-kindness#:~:text=Good%20for%20the%20body,be%20healthier%20and%20live%20longer.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/ways-being-kind-is-good-for-your-health-and-wellbeing/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/kindness/kindness-matters-guide