Make a cup of tea for someone else
Kindness is choosing to do something that helps others or yourself, motivated by genuine warm feelings.
You may recognise the expression "it is better to give than to receive", but did you know this is backed up by science?
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What is it?
What do we mean by kindness?
Kindness is choosing to do something that helps others or yourself, motivated by genuine warm feelings.
Kindness, or doing good, often means putting other people’s needs before our own. It could be by giving up our seat on a bus to someone who might need it more, or offering to make a cup of tea for someone else.
Evidence shows that helping others can also benefit our own mental health and wellbeing.
For example, it can reduce stress as well as improve self-esteem, mood and happiness.
There are so many ways to help others as part of our everyday lives. Good deeds needn’t take much time or cost any money. Making a cup of tea for someone else is an inexpensive and accessible way to demonstrate kindness.
How does it help
You may recognise the expression “it is better to give than receive”, but did you know that this is backed up by research?
People who are kind and compassionate see clear benefits to their emotional wellbeing. Kindness can also help reduce stress and improve our happiness.
It can be easy to signal kindness by posting online and following a trend, but harder to commit to kindness in our daily words and actions. But if we take the time to be kind to other people, we can reap the emotional reward ourselves. It can really make a difference, especially for people who are vulnerable or struggling.
What are the benefits of kindness?
Helping others feels good
Studies have found that acts of kindness are linked to increased emotional wellbeing. Helping others can also improve our support networks and encourage us to be more active. This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem. There is some evidence to suggest that when we help others, it can promote changes in the brain that are linked with happiness.
It creates a sense of belonging and reduces isolation
Helping others is thought to be one of the ways that people create, maintain, and strengthen their social connections.
It helps keep things in perspective
Many people don’t realise the impact a different perspective can have on their outlook on life. There is some evidence that being aware of our own acts of kindness, as well as the things we are grateful for, can increase feelings of happiness, optimism and satisfaction. Doing good may help you to have a more positive outlook about your own circumstances.
It helps to make the world a happier place – one act of kindness can often lead to more!
Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place. An act of kindness can boost feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism. They may also encourage others to repeat the good deeds they’ve experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community.
The more you do for others, the more you do for yourself
The benefits of helping others can last long after the act itself, for those offering kindness, and those who benefit. This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem.
How to make a proper brew
- Boil the kettle
- Choose a tea to suit their mood.
- If they’re tired, a good cup of black tea could give an energising boost.
- If they're a bit full up from that yummy meal you have just eaten, a nice cup of peppermint is said to aid digestion.
- And if they're quite awake but wanting to go to bed, a soothing cup of camomile could help them relax into that deep peaceful sleep.
- Once you've decided on the tea that matches their mood, you now need to choose the perfect cup to drink it out of - choose their favourite mug, cup or teapot.
- Pop the chosen tea bag into their mug, pour over the hot water and stir briefly
- Wait patiently…
- Give it a squeeze (with the back of a spoon)
- Customise your brew