Sometimes the only thing that makes a difference between someone having a bad day and someone having a good day is a kind word from a friend, family member, or even sometimes a stranger. This is something that we should do for one another more often, and we’re reminded of this fact by the holiday called Say Something Nice Day. This holiday falls on June 1st and is a day in which each person can make a difference by saying something nice to someone else. It doesn’t matter who it is; just be sure to pass out some compliments and not only make other people feel better but also make yourself feel a little bit better as well.

The History of Say Something Nice Day

Say Something Nice Day was created in 2006 by Dr. Mitch Carnell. This holiday was then promoted by the mayor of North Charleston at the time, Keith Summey. It’s a day that has been celebrated ever since and one that has been growing in popularity over the past few years. And in this day and age of negative feelings, it’s nice to have a day that encourages saying something nice to other people.

The Science Behind Saying Something Nice

Not only does saying something nice to someone make them feel better, but it can also make us feel better. And according to a flurry of research that has come out over the past few years, saying or doing something nice for someone else not only makes you feel better but can also make you healthier in some circumstances.

Being Nice Can Make People Live Longer

According to at least one scientific study, it’s been shown that people who regularly volunteer their time for a good cause actually live longer. According to reports, everyone from the elderly to people with severe health problems saw a boost in their longevity if they did regularly scheduled volunteer work.

Being Nice Lowers Stress Levels

Another thing that being nice to another person does for your health is to lower your stress levels. Studies have suggested that people who regularly say and do nice things for their friends, family, and coworkers have lower stress levels and sometimes even lower blood pressure levels.

Being Nice Releases Endorphins

Being nice to other people also causes your brain to release endorphins—the “feel good” drug that the brain releases as a reward. Endorphins make you feel better and help relax you, so doing something good for someone else also feels good to the person giving out the niceness.

Observing National Say Something Nice Day

National Say Something Nice Day is probably one of the easiest holidays to celebrate. There are no gifts to buy, no customs that have to be observed, and no decorations needed. All a person has to do is to give out a few well-placed compliments to the people around them. And if you want, you can also use the hashtag #NationalSaySomethingNiceDay to give compliments to people on your social media accounts.