When is National Compliment Day?
January 24th is National Compliment Day.
What is National Compliment Day?
Great job! Reading about National Compliment Day helps people practice complimenting each other. You’re on your way to becoming a compliment master! National Compliment Day celebrates the gift of praise and the power it has to change people.
Compliments brighten the world. Everybody loves genuine praise. When we’ve done well, compliments honor our achievement. When we’re low, a compliment can lift our spirits.
Fake praise unsettles us. That’s flattery, and it’s annoying. But sincere admiration emboldens us. Compliments show approval. We solve problems better and build more connections in settings where we know we are appreciated.
Words are powerful, and a simple compliment can change someone’s mood for the rest of the day. National Compliment Day is just one day a year to practice this reflex, because every day is a good day to tell people you appreciate them.
Fun facts about National Compliment Day!
- Janie Rees-Miller (2011) says that men and women compliment each other on different attributes in unstructured settings, but both men and women like to be complimented on their competence in goal-oriented settings like the workplace.
- In marriage, it’s important for compliments to outnumber criticism by more than five to one, according to Psychologist John Gottman.
- Compliments activate the same portion of the brain (the striatum) as cash rewards do.
How to celebrate National Compliment Day:
- Compliment 5 different people today. Be specific and thoughtful.
- Compliment with sincerity. Respectful praise, delivered in the right dosage and with no benefit to the giver, demonstrates the sincerity of the compliment.
- Compliment on the right qualities. For example, in the workplace, praise people for their aptitude in the tasks at hand.
- Compliment in moderation. The laws of economics apply. The more compliments you give out, the less they mean.
What’s the hashtag for National Compliment Day?
Use #NationalComplimentDay on social media to encourage people to compliment each other.