Life in hostels can feel monotonous with everyone going about their routine jobs. Over time, you may develop indifference to your surroundings and people. Can we do something that can make the environment more perky and people more cheerful? Yes, we can, with some little acts of kindness!
Think of buying your friends a coffee at the cafeteria in your hostel accommodation — a Cappuccino for one, a flat white for another, a latte for someone who likes it. Or, do you have another idea?
To help you with more of these ideas, we will discuss a few acts of kindness you can perform in your hostel to spark a kindness movement.
Show Gratitude
Many people work hard to make your life in student housing comfy and successful. Take, for example, the gardener who tends and waters the plants, the housekeeping staff who keep the premises neat, and the staff at your youth hostel canteen and cafeteria who serve you your favourite meals. Take time to make them feel loved and cared for. You can find occasions to give them a Thank You note or a gift card and chocolates on their special days. Do it along with your student hostel roommates and others in the hostel to for bigger impact.
Volunteer
To break the monotony of your hostel-world life, you can pick some interesting things to do in your spare time. Volunteering is a great way to shed inhibitions and mingle with people. You can, for example, volunteer with your hostel gardener, learn a few tricks with the barista operator at the cafeteria or help housekeeping staff with organising the students’ common room on a Sunday. Better still, ask the warden if you can volunteer in community living activities from time to time. Some great ideas may emerge.
Cover the Coffee
Let’s not ignore the coffee at the hostel’s cafeteria. Coffee is more than a drink, it’s a conversation starter, gently brewing connections between strangers. However, if you disagree and find coffee’s bitter taste a bit too cruel (!), let’s settle for ice cream. Regardless of what you choose, find an occasion to pay for a coffee or ice cream for your hostel mates and probably others in the student accommodation. The thing with coffee is that it helps you connect with people at a deeper level for the long term.
Treat the Warden
When you spread kindness through small acts of caring and sharing, let’s not forget the warden whose personality and values shape the overall system and environment in the on-campus housing. There are occasions when his presence is recognised, like at formal events in the hostel. Choose an ordinary day to surprise him with special gifts — a themed cake matching his interest or a music record of his favourite musician. You can think of more ways to make your hostel warden feel special and pampered.
A Thank You Note
Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated on February 17. Why not use the day to announce a kindness movement in your student living facility? You can invite ideas from your hostel-room mates on how random acts of kindness can be practised in the hostel with a bit of planning. This can bring up fresh and diverse ideas and also ensure wider participation. The importance of random acts of kindness is not in their being small and insignificant but in their unmistakable ability to touch the chord at a deeper level.
Take Away
Little acts of kindness go a long way in spreading hope and smiles. While you are living in the best hostel in India, hone this skill to a finesse. You can use this trait to your benefit as a colleague, friend, and family member. However, before you do anything that can create big ripples, take your warden into confidence. You can try and make it an act of kindness. It can increase the impact of the kindness you try to bring to your hostel.