World Kindness day began in 1998, launched by the World Kindness Movement, a legally registered not-for-profit organization with no political, commercial or religious affiliations.

According to Forbes, World Kindness Day “was intended to highlight positive actions in the community focused on our bonds with each other. In addition, it’s designed to bridge the distances between all kinds of differences—and encourage unity and empathy across people and groups.”

At Bunches, kindness is a cornerstone for everything we do. Whether it’s giving back to our customers with Posy Points, donating 10% of our annual profits to charity, or becoming more sustainable every day, it’s important to us that we are kind to our planet and the people in it.

We looked at five ways we can all be a bit kinder, both today and every day:

1. Give genuine compliments. If you’re thinking something positive about someone, whether it’s admiring an item of clothing, an accessory, or they’ve done something you’re proud of, tell them. It can make all the difference in someone’s day to receive a genuine compliment.

2. Listen and empathise. Sometimes lending an ear to someone is a bigger act of kindness than we think; it’s scientifically proven that “talking about our problems and sharing our negative emotions with someone we trust can be profoundly healing—reducing stress, strengthening our immune system, and reducing physical and emotional distress”. Just listening to something which may seem minor to you can hugely help the person sharing.

3. Be kind to yourself. This is equally important to being kind to others. Taking the time to make sure you’re alright means that you know how much of yourself you can give to help others without burning out. Knowing when to say ‘no’ is as important as saying ‘yes’.

4. Look for the good. Actively looking for kindness around you and sharing it with others can brighten the day. The more you look for good, the more you will find it!

5. Send a care package. Sometimes people need a little boost, and a care package is a wonderful way to show you care.