Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week the 2nd Full Week in February
Celebrate the 2nd full week in February
Random Acts of Kindness Week is a whole 7 days dedicated to doing one simple thing: Being kind.
And yes, being kind is a simple thing.
Even if some people make you want to be just the opposite.
But don’t give in. At least for this week. Find ways to be kind.
Random Acts of Kindness Week happens the 2nd full week of February every year. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation sponsors it.
The Foundation provides tools to encourage kindness all year. For this week, it offers a kindness pledge and other fun (and kind) activities.
There are other kindness oriented holidays too:
- Random Acts of Kindness Day is also in February, although it doesn’t seem to be related to this week.
- World Kindness Day happens in November.
- So does RAK Friday, which promotes doing random acts of kindness on Black Friday. That seems like a great idea, given how competitive the shopping on that day can get!
Kindness is Good For You
So … maybe you’re thinking you’d rather poke your eyes out with a hot poker than be kind to certain people?
Most of us probably feel this way about at least one person. But consider that kindness has positive results for both the giver and receiver.
Believe it or not, a person who receives or witnesses kindness may be more likely to also be kind. So, by committing one act of kindness, you may create a wave of kindness rippling out from you!
And kindness can improve both your mood and health!
- Oxytocin production increases. This “love hormone” helps you feel more optimistic and lowers your blood pressure.
- Serotonin production also increases. This “brain chemical” helps you feel calm and happy.
- Endorphin production increases. Endorphins give you a natural high, also making you feel happier!
- Regularly performing kind acts tends to decrease depression. That shouldn’t be surprising with all those feel-good chemicals running through your body. (Please note we’re not suggesting just being kind can cure major depression.)
See more benefits of kindness here.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.
Ideas for Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week
This one’s pretty self explanatory: Be Kind!
Individuals
Need more specific ideas? Try one or more of these:
- Pay for the person behind you at the toll booth, drive-through, or coffee shop.
- Strike up a conversation with a person you’re in line with.
- Smile. At everyone. Yes, even the grumpy guy who didn’t hold the door for you. Your smile just might be the bright spot in an otherwise rough day.
- Compliment people you meet. It doesn’t have to be anything big.
- Post sticky-notes with positive messages around the office or random spots around town.
- Leave quarters in pay-per-use shopping carts or washers/dryers at the laundromat.
- Be a kind driver: Let others change lanes in front of you. Wave a pedestrian across the street.
Get more ideas on the RAK Foundation website.
While you’re there, consider signing up to become a RAKtivist.
Businesses
Encourage employees to participate by asking for their ideas to make it a fun and productive week. Some of the ideas above can work at the office, too.
Other ideas:
- Say hi and smile to people in the elevator.
- Include a compliment or praise in all emails for the week. Or at least for one day.
- Challenge your social media followers to commit acts of kindness. Ask them to share.
- Share acts of kindness performed by your staff and ask followers to vote on their favorite.
- Get to know at least one co-worker a little better.
Schools
Teachers, administrators, and kids can all take part together.
A kindness wall or bulletin board can show how everybody has the ability to be kind. And as kind acts get added, they can inspire others to do similar acts of kindness.
Even the youngest children can thank a custodian for cleaning their classroom or say hello to kids they don’t know.
For more ideas, check out this list of 10 ideas from the 2016 RAK Week.
[…] Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 16 – 23, 2020): It’s a whole week of doing kind things for people. Friends, family, and random strangers. Especially random strangers, because you never know just how much a kind act might mean to someone. Try to do at least one random act of kindness each day. And on the 17th, which is RAK Day, try to do as many as you possibly can. […]
[…] Acts of Kindness Foundation doesn’t appear to be associated with this day. But it does celebrate International Random Acts of Kindness Week, celebrated around this same […]