Some days, the world seems to be full of nothing but bad news. After all, that’s what tends to dominate the headlines. But if you step back for a moment, you’ll see examples of kindness everywhere. They just don’t get the same attention. And honestly, if more of us followed those examples, things might look a whole lot different.
If you want a blueprint for that kind of change, Taylor Swift is a pretty good place to start. Yes, she’s a global superstar with money, fame, and a handsome, famous fiancé. But she’s also just a person trying to move through the world. And interestingly, science suggests that the way she treats people may be the key to happiness.
Of course, Swift has the kind of wealth that most people can only dream of. It allows her to donate millions to food banks and disaster relief. Most people can’t do that. But what stands out just as much are the little choices she makes along the way. The kind of everyday kindness anyone could practice. And research shows that those small actions, repeated again and again, can have a surprisingly powerful ripple effect.
Write handwritten notes
Swift’s affection for pen and paper is legendary. During the Eras Tour, the truck drivers who transported her to her staging received handwritten notes and $100,000 “life-changing” bonuses. Although most of us are not in a position to be so financially generous, we can certainly commit pen to paper to let people know we appreciate them.
She also sends notes to her peers. A 2017 handwritten letter to Liam Payne recently resurfaced at auction. The note thanked him and wished him well before a shared performance.
Ramesh Balasubramaniam, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Merced, told NPR that writing by hand “has important cognitive benefits” and that studies have shown it improves brain function and memory.
Bake homemade treats
While it might seem unfathomable that someone as busy as Swift would find time for baking, it’s one of the ways she demonstrates affection and care. Vanity Fair reported that when Swift hosted the 1989 Secret Sessions in her home, she baked cookies for the fans she invited.
She’s also been known to gift boxes of a homemade version of Pop-Tarts for Travis Kelce’s teammates, and baked sourdough for everyone from Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco to Jason and Kylie Kelce’s daughters. She even baked it for her “Fate of Ophelia” music video.
In addition to making someone’s day, Northern Healthcare reports the benefits of baking include stress relief, enhanced mood, boosted creativity, and increased self-confidence. That’s reason enough to fire up the oven.
Be nice to animals
Swift’s relationship with her three cats is well-documented. They were famously named after fictional characters. There are two Scottish Folds, Meredith Grey, named for a character in Grey’s Anatomy, and Olivia Benson, named after a character in Law and Order: SVU. The two even appeared in a DirecTV commercial.
Swift is also mom to a Ragdoll cat named Benjamin Button, after the Brad Pitt movie. The feline was pictured with Swift on a Time Magazine cover in 2023.
The superstar loves her cats so much that they frequently pop up in lyrics like, “Karma is a cat purring in my lap ’cause it loves me.”
According to the National Institute of Health, the potential health effects of pet ownership include decreased stress, lower blood pressure, reduced loneliness, and enhanced mood. It sounds like Swift is on to something.
Help others
Swift’s philanthropy is widely documented. During the Eras Tour, she donated the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of meals to food banks in the communities where she performed. There are also countless reports of gifts to individuals. Recently, she donated $100,000 to support a two-year-old fan named Lilah who is receiving treatment for a rare brain cancer.
Although most of us don’t have the means to make large-scale donations, there are always ways to make a difference, such as donating goods to our local food banks, bringing soup to a sick neighbor, or volunteering in our communities.
When people give, they also receive. Rush University Medical Center says studies prove that when people engage in charitable activities, they get a mental boost that improves mood, self-esteem, and even physical health.
Support your community
Swift’s habit of expressing gratitude is a highlight in award show archives. Cameras captured her standing and applauding Harry Styles when he won Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2021 Grammys, even though the two were exes and she was nominated in the same category.
It isn’t the first time Swift has supported other artists. Even when she left empty-handed at the 2025 Grammys, she remained in her seat and applauded each category. And of course, her enthusiasm for dancing and singing along to other artists’ performances is infectious.
According to CDC research, being part of a community helps people live longer, healthier lives. People with high-quality relationships suffer less from heart disease, dementia, stroke, and receive better quality sleep.
Express gratitude
When she won Album of the Year for “Midnights” at the 202 Grammys, she used the win as a platform to thank fans and announce a new album as a gift to them.
On the final night of her Eras Tour at BC Place Stadium, Swift thanked the audience, calling the tour “the most thrilling chapter of my entire life.”
Swift has the right attitude. According to Harvard Health, research demonstrates that expressions of gratitude lead to better sleep quality, lower risk of depression, improved emotional health, and a favorable impact on cardiovascular health.
Be a good friend
Swift finds ways to shower her friends with thoughtful gestures, like embroidering baby blankets for Gigi Hadid’s daughter, Khai, and Katy Perry’s daughter, Daisy. She’s also included Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ children in her lyrics, naming characters after them on her album “Folklore.”
Swift showed up in person to support Beyoncé at the premiere of her film, “Renaissance,” in London, and traveled to California for the wedding of her close friend, Selena Gomez, to Benny Blanco.
Houston Healthcare says that strong friendships like Swift’s are essential and can lead to decreased depression, lower stress, and higher self-esteem.
Swift’s habits are something anyone can copy
Swift’s handwritten letters, homemade treats, and love of animals may seem small, but these acts have the potential to improve her life and the lives of the people around her.
None of this requires fame or a global tour. These are small habits anyone can adopt. If enough people chose to live even a fraction of that way, the world would feel noticeably kinder, one era at a time.