Nice News

Nice News is hosting our first book club meeting today! At 5 p.m. ET, join us in conversation with Shauna Shapiro, PhD as she discusses her book, "Good Morning, I Love You," with moderator Erin Weed. The free, virtual event, sponsored by Yoga Wake Up, will also allow for questions from the audience. You won’t want to miss it — RSVP and get info on how to tune in at the reigstration link below.

At this point in the conversation around productivity, you may have heard that multitasking is ill-advised — nay, impossible. Numerous studies point to the entire concept being a misnomer: We don’t truly multitask; we simply switch rapidly between tasks, and each time we do, something is lost. We’re less efficient, we make more mistakes, and we’re unable to enter a state of deep engagement. And yet, the practice is so ingrained in American culture as being positive (how many of you have written “ability to multitask” in the skills section of a job application?) that we just keep on doing it. To understand how we can make better productivity choices, we reached out to author and time management expert Oliver Burkeman. Learn what he had to say on the subject and get helpful productivity techniques at the link below.

We talk a lot about kindness at Nice News — why it matters, what it can look like, and how to be kinder to yourself and others. But less talked about is how kindness pays off in the workplace. “Kindness drives performance,” Graham Allcott wrote for Next Big Idea Club magazine. Allcott is the author of “KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work,” a book that dives into the roles of empathy, trust, and psychological safety as cornerstones of successful workers and leaders — and bigger picture, successful businesses. Unlike the traditional notion that being ruthless and self-serving is key to climbing the ladder, Allcott writes that putting kindness at the heart of a business offers “strategic advantages” that keep people feeling engaged, productive, innovative, and happy. Read his tips on how to practice kindness at work. ⬇️

Today marks three years since Nice News sent out our very first newsletter. In some ways, it was a shot in the dark — we believed that Nice News filled a gap in the media landscape, that people needed more reminders of the good in the world, and that a dose of positivity in the inbox could create ripple effects of optimism. But who knew if it would work? Thankfully, we needn’t have worried. Back then, we had tens of thousands of readers, and now there are more than 1 million subscribers (we’re still pinching ourselves over that number). So whether you’ve been with us since March 2022 or you just signed up yesterday: Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Today is one of Nice News’ favorite “holidays”: Random Acts of Kindness Day. And there’s no better way to celebrate than by becoming a Random Acts of Kindness Activist, aka a RAKtivist. The term was coined by The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, and per the nonprofit, a RAKtivist’s goal is to make kindness the norm. “These are the people who turn ordinary days into something special with small, thoughtful gestures — like a sincere smile or offering a seat on the bus,” the foundation says. “These acts of kindness reconnect us with our humanity, reminding us of the love in the world and inspiring us to pay it forward.” The foundation offers heartfelt resources for interested RAKtivists, including a gratitude letter-writing activity guide and instructions for making seed bombs to promote biodiversity. If you’d like to join the RAKtivist gang, head to RandomActsofKindness.org to sign up and download free resources, like the attached posters.

Between buying cute gifts for our partners and hosting Galentine’s celebrations, we often skip over showing Valentine’s Day love ❤️ to the people we may spend the most waking hours with during the week: our coworkers. Agatha Parks-Savage, an associate dean of Eastern Virginia Medical School, says that’s a mistake. “We form connections at work not just professionally, but personally. If you’re lucky, some colleagues become friends,” she tells Nice News in an email, adding that the holiday falling on a Friday this year is “the perfect excuse to spread joy and care to those in the workplace.” Parks-Savage recommends sending notes of appreciation, hosting a potluck, or creating self-care goodie bags in the office. For remote workers, she advises sending virtual greeting cards or mailing sweet treat bags to teammates in advance. “Include everyone!” she says. “Even a grumpy person can secretly appreciate the care you demonstrate.” Get more ideas at the link below.

It’s an age-old question: Do you prioritize your free time or money? More people are leaning toward the former nowadays, according to a report from Randstad.  After surveying 26,000 workers across 35 countries, the international recruitment company found that work-life balance slightly outranked salary as a leading motivator when considering a job (83% vs. 82%) — a first in the company’s 22-year history of conducting its annual review of the world of work.  “Work today is about more than just a paycheck. Talent globally are looking for workplaces that align with their personal values, aspirations, and circumstances,” said the company’s chief executive Sander van 't Noordende. He added: “Compensation is still important but talent today have multifaceted expectations.” Other notable takeaways: Most people surveyed want their workplace to provide a sense of community, and 55% noted they were willing to quit if they feel they don’t belong, up from last year’s 37%. “A sense of belonging is now more important than ever before,” the study noted.

We loved featuring Capella Design in Nice News! Learn how the inclusive company is reimagining home mobility with its ADA-compliant (and viral) grab bar — which doubles as a sleek frame for artwork.

Happiness is hard to characterize. Is it contentment? Satisfaction? Joy? Nice News asked author Gretchen Rubin, who studies and writes about the subject — and she didn’t miss a beat in answering. “I do not define it,” Rubin said matter-of-factly. “I started my career in law where we spent an entire semester arguing about contracts, and happiness is an even more elusive concept.” She noted that there are some 15 academic definitions of the term and added: “We can all bring to it what we want.” Host of the podcast “Happier With Gretchen Rubin,” the Yale graduate published The New York Times bestselling book “The Happiness Project” in 2018 and went on to create a newsletter and award-winning app on the topic. Her ideas about human behavior are rooted in research and, as she put it, “me-search.” One of her most refreshing assertions? “You don’t have to change.” Read more of her practical advice at the link below.

It’s a human reality: We tend to remember negative experiences and stories over positive ones. Scientific research backs that up, but it also shows that we can adapt those memories by taking a more optimistic approach to our recollections. All that’s to say, if you find yourself only thinking about the lows of 2024, Nice News is here to remind you of the highs — the environmental wins, the progress toward equality, medical innovations, and so much more. When you sit down and think about it, there really was a lot of good that happened this year; click the link below to read eight of the highlights.