Do One Thing: How To Feel – And Do – Better When Life’s Being a Lot!
“Everything is broken and stupid and I’m gonna run away!” One half of my friend’s three-year-old twins tends towards (entertainingly) dramatic utterings, but her latest heartfelt wail resonated with me. Her concerns (a misplaced toy) may differ slightly from my newsfeed-induced worries (what fresh hell is happening everywhere and all at once today, then?) but our need is the same: to flee. Or, at least, hide under a comfy blanket eating ALL the popcorn until the bad stuff is over.
Spoiler alert: the bad stuff isn’t going anywhere. (Sigh.) So what to do to navigate the sense of overwhelm and feel like you’re making a difference in the world? One thing. That’s what. Or, more accurately, three things:
- Step away from the newsfeed.
- Do one small, positive thing. And then do one more.
- Keep going.
Pretty soon, you may find yourself feeling just that little bit more in control of your surroundings, more connected to the people around you, with a refilled emotional reservoir and the strength to step back into the ring and make some change. Wondering what this lifechanging ‘one thing’ could be? Frankly, anything, as long as it makes you feel like a better human for doing it. We’ve rounded up 10 simple ways to be kinder to self, others, and the planet to help get you started on this ‘let’s do the thing!’ journey. (All tried-and-tested by the Peppermint team!)
1. Take out the trash
What’s better than jogging or walking? Plogging and plalking, that’s what! And to your “wait, what?”, we answer: plogging is a mash-up of jogging and the Swedish term ‘plocka upp’, which means ‘pick up’, while plalking is the same concept, but done while walking. So, you’re picking up trash while out and about. Simple, and oh-so-satisfying!
“I have a thing about cigarette butts – they’re the most common form of plastic pollution in the world,” says Peppermint publisher Kelley about her plalking efforts. “I always try to pick them up when I can. An easy way to pick up rubbish without planning ahead is to carry a roll of biodegradable pet poo bags in the car – you can use it like a glove to pick things up and collect butts or trash in, and is the tiniest, easiest thing to have in your pocket if you’re going for a walk.” (Check out Kelley’s cheeky #fitspo and #buttercise Instagram posts here, here, and here!)
Love long walks on the beach? Join Take 3 For The Sea’s mission by removing three (or more) pieces of trash from wherever you’re wandering. Says Mandy, Peppermint advertising and partnerships manager: “It’s soooo ingrained into my kids now; whenever we’re at the beach or on a bushwalk we take three bits of rubbish each – and they usually initiate it!”
Grossed out by the idea of touching trash? Sewing manager Laura suggests this nifty hack: “I don’t like handling cigarette butts, but carrying an old metal sieve to pick them up off the beach is really helpful!” As for me? I suggest adding biodegradable (or washable) gloves, poop bags, and a sieve to your regular beach kit, just in case of emergencies. Seriously, the only thing that beats the warm glow of an unsolicited ‘good on you’ while plalking along? Knowing that the rubbish you just picked up won’t reach our waterways, or choke a sea critter.
The only thing that beats the warm glow of an unsolicited ‘good on you’ while plalking along? Knowing that the rubbish you just picked up won’t reach our waterways, or choke a sea critter.
2. Shop at home
Need to rustle up a meal, or planning a special outfit? Step away from the shopping trolley and towards your cupboards. Food and fashion waste are both huge issues in Australia. About 7.6 million tonnes of food gets wasted each year – about 70% of it perfectly edible – while we’re the biggest consumer of textiles per capita (yep, we’ve overtaken the US) – much of it fast fashion that ends up in landfill.
One simple thing you can do to make a difference is to start ‘shopping’ in your pantry or closet, using what’s already there to come up with moreish meals and creative fits. “I try to shop from my own pantry before I do a proper grocery shop most times,” says Mandy. “I’m mindful of not over-consuming and having to throw things out. Plus, it gives me a tiny thrill if I can make something out of super random things, too – a can of tinned beans, tuna, pasta and some pesto? Yum!”
Same goes for your wardrobe: try a new combo, borrow from a friend, or upcycle an old favourite with new details like fresh buttons or trim. Need some inspo? We’ve got tips to upcycle vintage fabrics, blankets, T-shirts, tea towels, and even handkerchiefs!
3. Ditch the phone
Having lunch with a friend? Striking up a quick conversation with your barista? Put your phone away, and give the other person your undivided attention. It’s an unbelievably generous act to give another person our full focus, and means we can be actively listening and perceiving what they may be going through. You could even make yourself a cute little bag to pop your phone in when you’re connecting with friends, like a tech-free tea cosy! No selfies until the final bell has rung.
It’s an unbelievably generous act to give another person our full focus, and means we can be actively listening and perceiving what they may be going through.
4. Be curious…
No, we don’t mean ‘curious’ in the sense of ‘spill ALL the tea!’ – we mean real curiosity about someone in your community, be it the regular cashier at your local grocery store, your neighbour, or a stranger on the train reading a book that you happen to love, too. “Sometimes the ‘one thing’ to do isn’t really a ‘thing’, like a task, but just a moment shared with someone,” says Laura. “A smile and a chat with an older person or just any random person while you’re waiting for your coffee can create wonderful positive ripples of connection and community.” Mandy agrees: “I think of that too going about my day – just a random shared joke or chat about the weather could be the only interaction or connection someone has had the whole day. Micro moments for the win!”
5. …and be kind
Here’s the thing about being curious about other humans and their worlds – it often leads us to be kinder, because we start noticing others, and really ‘get’ that they’re simply going about their days, trying to be the best they can be. Technical glitches during a recent trip abroad lead to several delays, and I had to run like a hare to make my connecting flight home. I was sweaty, out of breath, and very anxious, but trying to keep my cool. But an older lady noticed my state, walked over, and offered me some water, dried fruit and nuts. She didn’t speak English but made it very clear that I wasn’t to say no to her gift! It was such an unexpected gesture – I very nearly burst into tears.
Being kind can also have a knock-on effect, leading to more kindness, like with the much celebrated ‘pay it forward’ movement, or Kath Koschel’s Kindness Factory project. Says Kelley, “My husband paid it forward for someone else’s coffee at the cafe yesterday – such a simple and lovely thing to do!”
Another way to be kind that might not be immediately obvious? Say thank you. Genuinely, and often. We may not need to show gratitude when dealing with faceless tech or online chatbots (in fact, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to ChatGPT is costing its founder millions of dollars in water and energy costs, says its founder, Sam Altman), but in real life, showing consideration to the people you interact with is (still) a positive thing. A smile, a nod, that all-important ‘thank you wave’ when someone leaves you a gap in traffic, an unasked-for compliment? All worth their weight in gold.
Also, PSA: ‘being kind’ is something you can – and should! – do for yourself. No bullying your own reflection, talking down to yourself, or berating imagined faults. You’re worth loving! Go you!
A smile, a nod, that all-important ‘thank you wave’ when someone leaves you a gap in traffic, an unasked-for compliment? All worth their weight in gold.
6. Get hands-on
Got a head full of worries and stress? Get your hands involved instead. Knit a scarf. Bake banana bread. Repot a plant. Make a collage out of old mags. Try your hand at one of our wonderful Peppermint patterns. The act of creating – even just fiddling with clay or doodling on a piece of paper – slows your thoughts, gives your body a task, and makes something tangible out of all the abstract noise. There’s good science behind this, too. Craft and creativity help reduce cortisol (that’s your stress hormone) and can improve your mood, focus, and even sleep. Plus, if you make something and give it away – baked goods for your neighbour, a handmade card for a friend – it doubles the good feels.
7. Head outside
Feeling small and overwhelmed? That’s fair – the world is a lot. But you know what also makes us feel small in a good way? The sky. The ocean waves. The wind. Trees way older than our problems. Spending time in nature, even just five or ten minutes a day, can lower stress, soothe your nervous system, and boost your mood. Don’t have time for a full forest bath? Sip your morning brew on the back step while listening to the birds and feeling the sun on your face. No Instagramming – just presence.
8. Don’t tread on the spider
Look, nobody’s saying you need to become an insect whisperer… But hear us out: the world doesn’t actually need less biodiversity. So next time you’re tempted to squash that Daddy Longlegs, maybe gently relocate it, instead? The same goes for using pesticides or poisons in your garden or around the house. Reducing their use helps not just bugs but birds, pets, and our water systems.
Other small things to do to be kinder to the critters we share our neighbourhood with include putting out water bowls on hot days, planting a few local natives to create mini-sanctuaries in our gardens, or even joining a birdwatching club. Sometimes, it’s also not doing the one thing: maybe skip mowing the kerb until all the dandelions are done blooming? The pollinators will love you!
9. Lean in
Need a super-simple, affordable and FUN one thing? Hug someone! Seriously: hugging is proven to be good for you both mentally and physically, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and increasing feelings of connection and happiness by releasing oodles of oxytocin. Who doesn’t want lots of the ‘love hormone’ flooding their system, we ask you? But take care to give them properly: You’ve got to mean it! None of those side hugs or halfhearted squishes. A good hug is a full-body immersive experience, telling both the hugger and huggee that they’re safe and loved in this moment. Commit to it wholeheartedly, lean in, and don’t let go until a giggle erupts from the huggee. (Disclaimer: some people don’t much like hugs, so maybe check in before you jump in!)
A good hug is a full-body immersive experience, telling both the hugger and huggee that they’re safe and loved in this moment.
10. Pick your thing!
The ‘one thing’ you do doesn’t have to be what everybody else does – it could be suited to your lifestyle, circumstances, and even the area you live in. Laura mentions “collecting up the plastic mesh bags our fruit barn packs veg in and then donating them back to a local farm who use them to pack their produce in (because the fruit barn doesn’t take them back)”, while my next-door neighbour insists on bringing my bins in on rubbish day – it’s his ‘one thing’, and he won’t hear about stopping it, or even accepting thanks.
As long as your ‘one thing’ leaves you and others feeling better off than before you did it, it’s a great thing. That tiny shift in positive energy? It counts. Especially if you do it again tomorrow.
