Be kind.
Tip # 10 for the holiday season: Be kind.
The holidays are almost always challenging and especially so when stress levels are up, parking lots are full, subway cars are jammed, or the weather is bad. It’s the perfect time of year to perform random acts of kindness. Buy the person behind you a coffee, hold the door for someone, let someone go ahead of you (even though they’re being a jerk), bring flowers for a co-worker, or offer to do someone an unexpected favor. Our actions, big and small, affect the world, and your kindness has the potential to make someone’s day better.
Random acts of kindness from the Calm Team:
Christi-an: I often remind myself that I have no idea what someone is going through. That person who just cut me off, may be struggling through a breakup? That other person who cut in line may be rushing back to the hospital to see a sick parent? This sort of imagining helps me slow down and create a little bit of space, especially when I notice myself feeling angry or frustrated. I also love surprising someone out of the blue with a hot chocolate or a wintery bouquet!
Henderson: I find the closer it gets to the holidays, the more chaotic and anxious people get in stores, driving, etc. Everyone’s fuse gets a bit shorter and patience is less and less available. It’s easy to take on that energy and become a part of the chaos. Using an Emergency Calm meditation in the Calm app or taking a few minutes with the Breath Bubble is super helpful to get back to center. When I can, I also like use a Loving Kindness meditation to extend compassion to those around me who may be creating additional stress for themselves and others.
