Today is World Kindness Day. What small act of kindness can you do to make a difference? It could be a smile, a call to someone who’s struggling or helping a neighbour with their shopping. But there’s another kind of kindness that isn’t often talked about. It’s quiet, thoughtful and deeply personal. It’s making your funeral wishes known before the time comes.

It might not sound like an act of kindness at first. Funerals are emotional, and many people would rather not think about them at all. But leaving clear instructions about what you want can be one of the most caring things you ever do for your loved ones.

When someone dies, families often find themselves trying to make dozens of decisions quickly. Burial or cremation. Flowers or donations. Hymns or songs. Readings or silence. These choices can feel overwhelming when grief is fresh and time is short.

Research shows that 99% of people have no idea what their loved one’s funeral wishes actually are. That means almost every family ends up guessing. Some get it right, but many worry they haven’t. Others feel guilty, wondering if they did what their loved one would have wanted.

This uncertainty adds to the strain. It can also lead to spending more than planned. Around one in five families overspend on a funeral because they don’t know what the person would have wanted, so they try to cover every base or feel that underspending equates to a lack of care. When emotions are high, it’s easy to feel that more expensive means more respectful. But kindness isn’t measured in cost.

That’s where recording your wishes can make all the difference. Writing down what you want, and what you don’t, lifts a huge weight from those you care about. It means that when the time comes, your family can focus on remembering you, not worrying if they made the right choices.

The Farewell Guide makes that simple. You can record your funeral wishes in your own time, in your own words and share it with those who will be responsible for decisions when the time comes. Whether you know exactly what you want or just a few key things, it’s all there in one place. You can choose readings, songs and who you’d like involved. You can also say whether you’d prefer flowers, donations or something else entirely,and if you want any theme or to be eco-conscious.

Once complete, you can download a copy and keep it with your will or important documents, or share it with family or a trusted friend. It’s not about being morbid or expecting the worst. It’s about being kind. It’s a way of saying, “I’ve taken care of this for you.”

For those who are arranging a funeral now, The Farewell Guide can help too. You can use it to find a trusted funeral director near you, wherever you are in the UK.

The idea behind The Farewell Guide is simple. To make something hard a little bit easier. To help people talk about what really matters before it becomes urgent. To give families a clear path when everything feels uncertain.

On World Kindness Day, it’s worth remembering that kindness doesn’t always look like what we expect. It isn’t just something we give when times are good. Sometimes it’s about thoughtfulness that stretches into the future.

Kindness is saying not to worry, everything’s written down. It’s the moment your family realises they don’t have to guess or argue about what you would have wanted. It’s the calm that comes from knowing they’re doing things your way, because you told them how.

And if you’re arranging a funeral now, kindness is about giving yourself permission to get help. You don’t have to do everything alone. Finding a supportive, local funeral director through The Farewell Guide can make a hard process less stressful.

This World Kindness Day, think about the small ways you show care for others. Then think about one more. Write down what you want for your funeral, or help someone you love do the same. It doesn’t cost anything to start. But one day, it could mean everything.
 

Further reading

World Mental Health Day: Resources for Finding Support
What is the Difference Between a Funeral and a Celebration of Life?
Am I Too Young To Plan My Funeral?