This May, we’ve been celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month by hyping up how Kindness is Doughp. In case you missed it, we used one Monday to talk about how kindness is calling a loved one.
When the world is a crazy place, you can make a big difference by doing something kind for a friend. That phone call is a great place to start, but you def don’t need to stop there.
If you want to make the world a little sweeter for the people you care about, we’ve got a few ideas.
#1: Send a card
A phone call is legit, but there’s just something about getting a surprise in the mail. The next time you’re at the grocery store, pop down the card aisle. Grab a couple that catch your eye, then take a little time to write a compliment or word of encouragement to your friends.
No fuss, no muss. Pop them in the mail and you can smile to yourself knowing you’ve brightened someone’s day.
#2: Offer to help
You probably know what stresses your best buds out. Maybe they’re always scrambling for a babysitter or they HATE cleaning their baseboards.
The next time you have a day with some free time, “donate” a couple of hours to a close friend. Do the thing you know always hangs over their head. Freeing up a little bit of their time can make a bigger difference than you might expect. You’ll feel good helping out a friend, and they’ll get a chance to catch their breath.
#3: Drop off a treat
When you want to make life sweeter for someone you care about, you can go the literal route. Make a little care package of their favorite candy or grab a Doughp gift box. Or, if they prefer salty over sweet, grab a couple of bags of their favorite chips.
Then, it’s the moment your teenage self has been waiting for: ding-dong-ditch that treat at their front door. (Probably include a little note from you so they’re not worried about random food showing up from an unvetted stranger.)
#4: Host a dinner party
If you’ve got a few friends you want to shower with some goodness, plan a little soiree. Not a cook? No sweat — you can always order out.
Gathering up the gang to share a meal and some laughs means you all get to reap the benefits of social connection, like reduced feelings of depression and anxiety and more balanced moods overall. Sounds pretty good, right?
And, hey, the fact that you want to do something nice for a friend makes you pretty darn legit. Treat yourself while you’re at it, too.