self improvement – safespace

15 random acts of kindness

How many times do we want to be helpful, but don’t know what to do? Through the years, I’ve found out that some simple acts can be perceived as particularly positive and can have a great impact on other people’s lives. Remember: what doesn’t look like a great change to you may mean the world to others.

So, I’ve decided to make this list of random acts of kindness that don’t have that much of an impact on your day, but can improve someone else’s life. None of these requests for a lot of time, and many can be done within half an hour: no more excuses to make the world a better place!

Keep reading for ideas:

Smile at people when you walk past them on the streets. Not one of those creepy smiles strangers give you at times, but a genuine, simple smile. You won’t make someone’s day, but can for sure improve that moment.
Pick up trash. Heroes don’t get rewards: take care of the environment and pick up trash on the streets. You will be helpful to your community and will suddendly live in a cleaner space.
Put positive notes on mirrors. Whether you’re at home or in a public toilet, it will take you 2 minutes to come up with something nice that will definitely make someone’s day.
Always say please and thank you. You don’t need a reason to be kind: recognize people’s favours and thank them for their help.
Call your grandparents or a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Do you remember that big smile on your grandmother’s face when you were a kid and spent the day with her? Don’t forget about her and call once in a while.
Bring chocolate to a friend who’s been really busy lately. Ask yourself what you would appreciate in moments of intense stress and do it for your friends. Chocolate is just an idea, something that I personally would appreciate a lot and that doesn’t ask for a lot of time.
Cook a meal for your family or for your housemates. If you want to be extra, ask them about their favourite meal and cook it, otherwise just make them find a warm meal when they come home from work or from school.
Bake cookies for a friend. Baking always is a fun activity. Bring the cookies over to a friend and eat them together with them.
Do all the housework by yourself. Make your parents or housemates find a perfect house when they come home, they’ll surely appreciate it.
Donate stuff you don’t use anymore. There are clothes you’ve bought years ago that still find place in your closet, but you haven’t worn for ages. Donate them, someone will surely appreciate what you don’t need anymore.
Walk or cuddle a pet. Not only will you exercise and relax, but it will make the pet feel loved too.
Write a kind text message to someone. It will take around five minutes and will make people feel extremely valued and loved.
Send anonymous flowers. People love flowers, they light up the house and contribute to the positive vibes.
Buy a little present for your siblings. Remember them they’re loved by buying something you know they will like.
Volunteer your time. Whether you’re giving out food, clothes or helping kids with their homework, it will be totally worth it: not only will you help people in need, but you’ll also master new skills and learn to listen. You can find an article on why you should totally volunteer your time here.

Do you have other ideas or suggestions? Feel free to write them in the comments below!

10 habits to make your life better

Getting stuck in a place is one of the worst things to experience, in particular if it’s a psychological state. Most of the time, change is actually possible through little steps to better yourself day by day.

Eat better: you don’t realize how much of an impact eating makes on your life until you start eating better. You can find out how to change your habits meal by meal here.
Get enough sleep. Sleep is such an underestimated aspect of our life. Most of the time, we don’t understand the importance of having a regular sleeping schedule and the benefits it can have on our bodies. Sleep is the battery we have to recharge, it’s a moment to let our mind relax and run free and it contributes to a large variety of bodily functions.
Learn a new skill every month. If food and sleep are important for the body, learning a new skill every month will help your mind stay young and focused on your life goals. You can find a list of underrated skills that will better your life here.
Drink more water and less alcohol. I know, your friends drink and you can’t refuse champagne at a party, but try to keep alcohol for special occasions. Alcohol alters your bodily functions, while water is necessary to keep you at your best.
Move your body. Your body is made to be moved. Your mind quits a lot earlier than your body does: kick yourself out of the sofa and go for a walk, you will feel a lot better after it. Consider scheduling at least three workouts/walks every week, ask a friend to start a new sport program together.
Declutter your house, your car, your desk at work. Throw away all those unnecessary things that you’ve kept “just in case” and have used once in the last three years. Clean your wardrobe, donate those clothes that you don’t use anymore, you can also try to sell the ones in good conditions to a second-hand shop and get some money out of it.
Focus on a big goal. Choose a goal that’s important for you to accomplish and focus on it. Invest your energy in a long-time plan and put all your effort in achieving that big goal. Three years from now, you’ll thank yourself.
Plan your days. Planning your days will help you stay focused on what’s important or what you actually want. It will help you avoid distractions, manage your time and put you ahead of work. You can find out how to write an effective list of goals here.
Set internet controls. It’s difficult, at times, to keep track of the time we waste on the internet. Don’t get me wrong, the web is a beautiful place if you use it wisely, but how often do you find yourself scrolling through instagram or facebook? Reduce the time you spend that way and invest it on a new hobby.
Read a new book every month. Your mind needs to be fed, and reading is a great way to do it. Choose books of the topics that you’re interested in the most and, in the beginning, try to force yourself into reading. Remember it takes 21 days to build a habit: don’t quit. You can find a list of great books to read here.

10 underrated skills to learn

There are a lot of underrated skills that will help you into adulthood, and are definitely worth knowing. If you’re looking for something new to learn, here is a bunch of stuff you may be interested in.

Learn how to cook. It may seem a clichè, but cooking actually is a really relevant part of life. Not only does it help financially, since you don’t have to always go out to eat, but it can also get very pleasant at times. What are you waiting for? Buy a new cook-book and try out your first recipes.
Learn a new language. Learning a new language may take a bit of time, but it will help you keep your mind trained. Language also shapes the way we think, speaking more than one language will help you be more open-minded. If you’re interested in this topic, consider taking a look at this Ted Talk.
Start journaling. Journaling is an art, it helps you relax and think about your day at the same time. Like that, it enables you to become creative and to get to know yourself better. You can find a guide on how to keep a journal here.
Learn how to write. Writing is something we’re all capable of doing, but how often do you actually write for yourself? Take a course of creative writing, or start trying out different styles. You could begin from a diary and, later on, switch to tales and poetry and, who knows, maybe a novel one day.
Learn how to do taxes. I have to confess that I myself cannot do it by myself yet, but I’m planning to learn it someday. It might actually take a bit of time, but it’s something worth understanding in the world we live in.
Play a sport. Sports are important to keep you busy and assure you a healthy body. Hit the gym, join a basketball team, run a marathon, I don’t care, get out of your house and move your body.
Learn new communication skills. Educate yourself on how to have good conversations. You can find a lot of materials online, such as Ted Talks and mini-guides. Practice what you learn with your friends and see the positive effects that it has on your life.
Educate yourself on geopolitical issues of the time. Keep an eye open on actuality and the world news. Humankind needs people who understand the roots of contemporary facts and consequentely know how to act.
Understand how to be useful in your community. Volunteer your time, take part in a rehabilitation program and get to know the value of being useful to someone. Believe me, it will help you completely change your views and open your eyes on reality. You can find more reasons why you should totally volunteer your time here.
Learn how to take care plants. Plants are a responsibility, not a huge one, but still a responsibility. If you can keep your plants alive, water them daily and make sure they get enough sunlight, you’re at a good point on becoming more responsible.