The Toucan random acts of kindness challenge
Do you agree that being kind is a trait that is often overlooked in our modern world? Truth be told, we believe we could all do with treating each other with a little more compassion.
Here at Toucan, we love a bit of kindness. Not only does it make someone else feel great, but it can make you feel pretty darn good as well!
A random act of kindness is so easy to do, and it can be fun too. Fancy giving it a go? Why not take our daily challenge for a week and spread some positivity and generosity to those around you.
Day 1: Pay someone a compliment
Message a couple of friends and let them know how much you appreciate them. It may seem like a small gesture, but giving a genuine compliment will not only make them feel special, but can also help boost your own self-confidence.
Day 2: Look after your local area
Recycle, volunteer with a local community garden, or go plogging (that’s picking up litter & jogging at the same time) – anything you can do to improve the local area can help to uplift everyone. Nature has such a powerful impact on our physical and mental wellbeing, so why not show it some TLC?
Day 3: Offer your help
Whether it’s giving up a seat on the bus, offering to help a neighbour with their weekly shop, or lending an ear to a friend who is struggling right now, giving some of your time and energy to someone can make a real difference. A lot of us put off jobs around the house, so perhaps a friend needs help de-weeding their garden or putting up a shelf.
Day 4: Slow down
We’re often so busy trying to get from A to B that we can forget about other people around us also battling to get to their destination. It’s nice to believe in karma, so remember what goes around often comes around – why not let someone else go ahead of you in the queue. What’s the worst that could happen? (Apart from a complicated coffee order…)
Day 5: Donate
You can donate money to the charities you care about most through the Toucan app on a monthly basis – you can also see the impact your contribution has had on your chosen causes. Time is also a great thing to give – perhaps collect items for a food bank or donate your old clothes to a clothes bank, so they can support those who need it most. There are so many ways you can get involved with volunteering and donating your time.
Day 6: Leave a surprise
Why not write a happy note - or even paint a rock - and hide it for someone else to find? You might come across the latter before; it’s been a big hit for families wanting to get outside and explore. Imagine the joy of a stranger finding a positive message or a beautiful creation at a time and place they were least expecting it.
Day 7: Don’t forget yourself
Showing yourself a little bit of self-care is as important as being kind to others. If you need help with that – and let’s be honest, we probably all do – there are a few ways you can do it. Learn to calm your mind, perhaps with meditation, reflect peacefully on your day, or listen to a podcast.
Thankfully, this isn’t the sort of challenge that finishes after a week. You can perform random acts of kindness all year round, and the list of generous acts is never-ending. In a world that feels incredibly divisive and combative, it’s so important to look after each other within our communities and remind ourselves of the difference just small actions can make.
