The Absolute Easiest and Cheapest

Way to be More Healthy- Being Kind.

By: Eli Withers

We all know what kindness is. Kindness is defined as the quality of

being friendly, generous, and considerate. Kindness is holding the
door open for someone walking behind you, saying bless you when
someone sneezes, giving compliments on someone's outfit or hair,
waving at a neighbor, smiling at someone; The list could go on for
ages. One thing that these things all have in common though, is how
simple they all are. It is incredible how something so simple can
benefit one's health- both physically and mentally- in an incredible
amount.
Kindness is a Natural ‘Reset Button’.
Psychologists have found that performing acts of kindness boosts
happiness and well-being. (Mahoney, Mark. “Be Nice: Explore the Many
Health Benefits of Practicing the Art of Kindness.” Mayo Clinic Health. 10
Oct 2023.) Studies even show kindness being linked to
releasing “oxytocin” into the body, which is
responsible for improving blood pressure.
Studies even show acts of consideration going
as far as benefiting your nervous system.
Think of kindness as a natural reset button
for your body. If a negative thing happens or you
are worried about something, kindness can help
improve your overall mood. It enables your body to counteract negative
impacts on your systems. For instance, stress and anxiety can negatively
impact your digestive system, cardiovascular system, and even your nervous
system. Acts of compassion give your body something to focus on and
something positive to look forward to.

Kindness in a Real-Life Scenario.

Kindness fought against the negative
social effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
During the pandemic, there was a study done
on prosocial behavior in adults in Ontario,
Canada. The study showed that kindness and
prosocial behavior went hand-in-hand in
recovering from the social downfall that
occurred due to the pandemic. (Shillington,
Katie J; Yates, Julia; Vanderloo, Leigh M;
Burke, Shauna M; Ng, Victor. “‘When
you give kindness out, you get it back ten times more: Ontario adults’
prosocial behavior during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
PLoS One. July 2023.) The study shows adults
that who experienced or committed acts of
kindness became more prosocial and even
more socially aware than others during the
pandemic. Small acts of kindness rose, which
eventually led to many engaging in safe social
interactions (which helped many remain
socialized) and giving back to community members and organizations. This
only shows how small acts of kindness - either given or received - have an
incredibly positive impact on society, even during the most recent and very
tragic pandemic.

How to Start Being More Kind: It’s Simple!

To start being more kind, start small! For kindness to have health benefits
doesn't mean having to donate large amounts of money to charities or start
picking up trash on the side of the road for weeks on end, but rather a
simple compliment, smile, or any kind gesture is enough to start you on the
path to being a healthier and more kind person.
Date Created: November 2023.