8 ways you can be a kinder human in 2017
For many of us, 2017 is going to be rough. Getting through it will require peak kindness.
If you're looking to treat others better in 2017 (uh, we hope that is the case), start with a few simple changes. Bonus: This is a New Year's resolution that does not include unrealistic exercise goals.
Here are a few steps you can take to amp up your kindness in 2017.
1. Tip more than you need to
To start, implement a 20% minimum for tips. Remember to tip baristas, hair salon shampooers and coatroom attendants, too -- they are often forgotten. Finally, if you can’t afford to leave a good tip somewhere, don’t go there. Service industry workers deserve to be compensated fairly no matter what your budget is.
2. Say hi to an old friend
Send someone you haven’t talked to in a while a nice text message. Or a note. Or a delightful meme. (Just make sure it’s someone you actually want to talk to first, please.)
3. Offer to help someone out
Babysit for your cousins. Send a care package. Help your roommate do the dishes. If someone posts a Facebook status asking for help moving, be the one who lends a hand.
4. Work to be a good ally
No matter who you are, there are a lot of marginalized groups who need your support more than ever. Be a good ally by listening, amplifying their voices, volunteering, speaking sensitively and not getting defensive if you make a mistake.
5. Don't sacrifice kindness for pleasantness
Too often, we let offensive comments and actions slide because we don't want to be impolite or "not nice." But doing nothing is unkind to the people who are harmed by these actions -- and that's far more important.
Stand up for people who are being harassed and discourage the people around you from using bigoted language. You might have to be firm, and that's okay -- it will make the world a kinder place in the long run.
6. Make room in your budget to donate
Set aside a bit of your income -- even if it's just $5 a month -- for an organization you believe in. Many orgs, including Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the World Wildlife Fund, allow you to configure a monthly donation, so you can even do the whole "set it and forget it" thing.
7. Take care of something
Could be a kitten, could be a Neopet, could be your desk plant -- just pick something, work to understand the responsibility of caring for it, then follow through. You’ll be more observant and more empathetic for it.
8. Take care of yourself
You gotta be kind to yourself, too. Whatever your preferred method of self care is -- a screen break, a warm bath, a fancy smoothie -- treat yourself to it. You deserve it, dude.
Chloe was the shopping editor at Mashable. She was also previously a culture reporter. You can follow her on Twitter at @chloebryan.
