Be kind this Christmas, pay it forward

At a time when Christmas, actually the entire festive period, is seemingly over taken by ever-increasing commercialisation, the pressure too being increasingly piled on, here’s a gentle reminder that the season of joy doesn’t have to be about how much you spend, financially.

This Christmas, focus instead, on what you can do brighten other people’s day. There is truth in the adage of ‘when you do good, you feel good’ so, if your mood has taken a hit with the dark nights and shorter days, not only will you help spread some festive cheer, you'll boost your own well-being in the process.

So, we've put our heads together to come up with a whole host of ideas that are either free or relatively cheap to help you spread the joy as Christmas approaches. What's not to love about a free 'gift' that gives back to both the recipient and the giver?

Let’s start small - smile at a stranger.

Smiling releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress. Every time you turn your frown upside down, you benefit from a cocktail of endorphins, natural painkillers and serotonin. Together, these three make us feel good. Sometimes receiving a reciprocal smile from a stranger can make the difference in how the rest of your day goes. Try it. You can even smile at yourself in the mirror, it still works!

Share your skills

Are you a dab-hand at wallpapering, maybe you bake the best carrot cake EVER, or you can change a spare tyre with your eyes closed? Share your particular skills with someone who CAN'T do the things you can. Doing a good deed and expecting nothing in return is the ultimate act of kindness, especially at Christmas.

Write a heartfelt letter to a loved one and post it

Some of us remember the joy of receiving a handwritten letter in the post, tearing open the envelope to read all the news from home (or away). This simple act of taking the time to tell someone how you feel about them is sure to leave both parties feeling warm and fuzzy and unlike an email or text, you can't accidentally delete a letter.

Give blood

Many blood donors will tell you there is nothing better than receiving a text from the NHS Blood and Transplant Service to say their pint of good stuff has been used to save someone's life.
Certain criteria apply but you can find out where your local sessions are held, if you're a suitable candidate and apply to become a donor. While you're at it, you might want to consider joining the organ donor list, too, at www.organdonation.nhs.uk We're not sure there's a better gift at Christmas than saving a life?

Buy a stranger a coffee

Taking a break from Christmas shopping by retreating to a café for a drink and cake? Buy someone a 'suspended' coffee at the same time. When you buy yourself a coffee at a participating coffee shop, you can pay for a second one - which can then be claimed by someone who cannot afford it otherwise.
They don't have to ‘prove’ anything to claim the drink, but the scheme relies on the good faith of everyone involved.

Create your own Christmas trail

Decorate rocks or pine cones with festive designs (leave off the glitter – unless it’s eco-friendly) and leave them dotted around your local park or city for others to find. Children often love creating, hiding and finding painted rocks so this is a fantastic activity for families, plus it gets you all out of the house, even on chilly days. You could even get in touch with local art groups to see if there's a bigger event you could get involved with near you.

Donate to a local food bank

It's always best to check what your local food bank needs the most but typically think about donating nutritious items such as cereal, tinned soup, wholegrain pasta and rice, UHT milk and fruit juice, tinned tomatoes, tinned fruit, tea and coffee, pasta sauce, biscuits. Food banks also provide essential non-food items like toiletries and hygiene products where they can.

Get sociable - if you fancy it

Host a mince pie and coffee morning. This is a great way to get people together at a time when loneliness can start to creep in, especially for those people whose families are disconnected for whatever reason. A home-baked mince pie washed down with a hot drink is the perfect excuse to get people together in a relaxed social setting and you could raise a few pounds for a charity of your choice, too.

These are just a handful of ideas but there are so many ways to pay it forward this Christmas, just remember the gesture itself is what matters not the monetary value. It's all about making a special moment for someone else, helping to restore their faith in humanity with your random act of kindness.