If something was available free on prescription that could boost your mood, lower anxiety, increase satisfaction in relationships and improve your physical health as well, wouldn’t you take it?

Well, that free thing is kindness. Yup. Being kind to other people has such a positive effect on you, it’s as good as being selfish. And we’re not talking major philanthropic works here, we’re talking about holding the door open for the next person, picking up something someone has dropped, or dropping some loose change into a charity box. Heck, you can even do some of those things without exchanging a word, if you’re as shy as my sons.

The Random Acts of Kindness website also says “The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to “pay it forward.” This means one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day of dozens of people!” So you don’t even need to do the kind act yourself to benefit.

I love being kind, but I’m a shy babe as well, so I like doing little, daft things to help. Today, though, I have invested £2 in 24 candy canes from Aldi, and I am on a mission to give them all out, along with a smile and a Merry Christmas. It’s Thursday, and I have a funeral to go to, so I may not give out too many there. I’m also due to go carol singing at an Old Folks’ Home, which may be where most of my canes get handed out.

How about you? What will you do today to be kind?

Now for the advert-y bit: I can’t be bothered to think of a witty way to link kindness and my books, except a request for you to buy my books and be kind to me.

My three books are all available from Amazon.

50 Ways to Hygge the British Way  is available in Paperback and Kindle version and so is How to Hygge Your Summer, again in Paperback and Kindle form, from Amazon.

Have Yourself a Happy Hygge Christmas was released in September 2017 and is available again in paperback and ebook version.

If you purchase through the links on this page, I get a couple of pence extra per copy, and if you’ve already read them and enjoyed them, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. I have a Goodreads Author’s Page!

My blog is on Facebook as How to Hygge the British Way and you can now follow me on Bloglovin as well. I’m personally also on Instagram and as a member of The Hygge Nook on Facebook.

****How to Hygge the British Way Blog isn’t monetised. I have taken the decision that I want to remain neutral and not to promote things just because. I will only ever review items that I have bought myself, or that I think will help to promote hygge in a busy life. To do this, I need support. Even just the price of a coffee adds up to a book over time, and it means I can stay independent. Would you help? Please consider clicking through to paypal.me/HyggeJem and leaving even a small amount. I’d be very grateful. Thank you.***