It's World Kindness Day, Friday the 13th. Wait, is that a joke? Friday the 13th?
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World Kindness Day
Start with yourself
Yes, you're at the top of this list. What is one simple thing you can do that fills you up? It may mean taking 15 minutes for a phone call with an old friend, shooting hoops or reading a book. It may be simply saying "yes" if someone offers to help.
Drink more water
It's recommended that women drink 72 ounces of fluids per day and men 100 ounces. Why not try adding one more glass of water per day and increase that number as you can.
Go to sleep earlier
Lack of sleep makes us more vulnerable to illness. Routine, cooler temperatures and a dark room are key to good sleep.
Treat your sweetheart
Do something nice that makes your spouse happy -- take a walk together, make their favorite dish or load the dishwasher the way they like it or take the kids away so they can have solo time -- make a schedule, find a favorite wine, whatever is their love language. (And don't forget your anniversary.)
Schedule teatime
Take time to make the family a restorative cup of tea or two. Frequent green tea drinkers were 21% less likely to develop depression over their lifetime than those who were nondrinkers, a 2018 study conducted in South Korea found.
Host a family dance party
Have a family dance party to all sorts of music ('70s, anyone?) and show the kids you can salsa or boogie or slide with the best of them.
Phone a relative
So many grandparents are missing their children and grandchildren, so why not call a relative? And if you miss someone, you can call them, too.
Heritage recipe hunt
Call the main chef in your family and ask her or him to walk you through a longtime family recipe. Then make it. If they claim you have to have a certain ingredient from the old country, ask for another recipe.
Bake for a neighbor
My favorite neighbors stress bake and share their baked goods. Those last scones were so good, and scones go with tea (see above). There is still so much more to bake.
Communicate your gratitude
Handwritten letters have become a sort of lost art, but there is nothing like receiving a handwritten note that shows care, intention and the reasons why someone loves and appreciates you. Think of the colleagues, friends and family members you cherish and why, then let them know. The simple things often mean the most.
Vote and register people to vote
If you live in the US state of Georgia, you have two (yes, two) runoff elections coming up, December 1 and January 5. If you don't live in Georgia, you can still help register people to vote in your state.
Take a hike
Hiking any time of year is good for you and shows support for our parks and other public natural spaces. More than ever, we need nature.
Buy food from farmers
Shopping at your local farmers markets or direct from farmers supports local businesses growing good food.
Volunteer in a litter cleanup
Organize or join a community cleanup of a local beach or neighborhood park.
Turn off your lights
Just when you don't need them. So many of us are working from home, and that's quite the electric bill. Turning them off saves money and resources.
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