Supporting others doesn’t have to cost money or require grand gestures. Small acts of kindness – such as sending a ‘thinking of you’ message – are a great way to show others you care.
Here are 8 ways to support those around you, whether that’s friends, family, colleagues, or your wider community.
Set aside some time to help others when you can. For example, offer to babysit, house sit, or ‘pet sit’, prepare a few meals for someone in need, or visit someone you haven’t seen in a while. If you notice a colleague is especially busy, you can offer to help reduce their to-do list by completing a simple task that may overlap with your workstream.
Check on your friends, family, or neighbours. This could be sending a quick message, giving someone a call, or dropping by their house.
One of the most powerful ways to support others is to listen. Showing up with kindness, empathy, and an open mind can mean the world to someone who’s going through a tough time.
You won’t always have the resources or knowledge to support others, but you might know someone else who does. Look out for opportunities to connect people within your network.
It can be hard to see anything positive when you’re in the middle of a major challenge or stressor. One way to support someone who is struggling is to help them reflect on their experiences with self-compassion. Supporting someone to shift their perspective with non-judgement and self-kindness can help them see the gifts of the situation, too.
Acknowledging achievements can show others that you care, especially in a work environment. Praise people for their accomplishments (big and small) to show you appreciate them.
You might have gifts, talents, or previous experience that people in your life could benefit from. Think about ways you might be able to pay it forward.
From a compliment, to letting someone know they are appreciated, to bringing someone a coffee from their favourite cafe, doing things without expecting anything in return helps to strengthen relationships and provides everyone a boost in mood (including you).