September is National Courtesy Month, but don’t narrow practicing manners to just one month. Every day is the perfect opportunity to practice kindness and respect. Common courtesies fall to the wayside with our hurried and busy lives. It’s important to keep courtesy alive in our culture. Here are a few manners to practice when going to a restaurant:

Leave a tip—Thank the service by leaving a tip. It doesn’t have to be much, just a little bit. Most servers are paid less than minimum wage and live on the tips they earn. Even if you don’t agree on the treatment of service, make their day by leaving a tip. It will be greatly appreciated, and in many cases, needed.

Hold the door—Next time at a restaurant, take a moment to acknowledge the person behind you and hold the door open. We walk through several doors in a day and have many opportunities to extend this kindness. It hardly takes any effort, and lets the person feel respected. If someone holds the door for you, let them know you appreciate it by saying Thank You.

Put down the smartphone—Although smartphones are supposed to make life easier, they have made it much easier to be rude. When sharing a meal with a friend, family member or coworker, put down your smartphone. That email, notification or text can wait. The present moment deserves your full attention, and so does the other person. Make them feel respected and appreciated.