The winter holidays tend to get people in the giving mood.
No matter what time of the year it is, though, I believe that random acts of kindness can benefit everyone. Random acts of kindness can positively impact others and they are great for the soul too.
Whether the gesture is big or small, every act can go a long way. The smallest gesture can make someone’s day and completely change how they are feeling!
Here’s a long and wonderful list of ways to carry out random acts of kindness.
1. Smile and say hello to everyone you cross paths with. I do this with everyone I see and it’s always great when someone does it back.
2. Hold the door open for someone.
3. Donate items from your home. Another thing you could do is donate an item for each item you bring home. So, each time you buy a shirt, donate a shirt!
4. Do a chore that you normally don’t do for your spouse. This could include doing the dishes, taking out the trash, cleaning your home, making a meal, dealing with a bill, and so on.
5. Donate blood.
6. Bring a trash bag on a walk and collect any trash that you may come across.
7. If someone is spreading gossip, say something nice about that person instead.
8. Give your new neighbors a welcoming gift. This doesn’t have to be expensive, dessert is usually loved or you could even just introduce yourself.
9. Leave a big tip. Leave a nice note on the receipt as well.
10. Leave coupons on items at the grocery store for others to use.
11. Bring food to share at work. Everyone loves donuts in the morning.
12. If you have a wedding or a party, donate your decorations and flowers to a hospital or a nursing home afterwards.
13. Send someone flowers for no reason.
14. Send a care package to someone who is away. This could be a person who is working far away, in the military, in college, and so on.
15. Compliment others. A simple “your hair looks great!” can make someone’s day.
16. Help someone find a job.
17. Bake treats for animals. Pets at shelters would love to have treats!
18. Call someone you love.
19. Forgive someone for a mistake. People make mistakes. Maybe you won’t forget, but you possibly can forgive.
20. Foster an animal. If you’re able to, possibly adopt as well.
21. Rake your neighbor’s leaves.
22. If it’s pouring out, let someone under your umbrella if you know you’re going to the same place. This could apply if you are walking to the inside of a mall from a parking lot, to class from a parking lot, and so on.
23. Encourage someone who is struggling.
24. Pay for someone’s bill. This may mean paying for someone’s food, coffee, toll, groceries, or something else.
25. Leave post-it notes with positive phrases in public bathrooms.
26. Become a Big Brother or a Big Sister.
27. Help someone in need.
28. Start couponing so that you can donate items at no cost to you.
29. Help a coworker who is having a hard time. You never know what someone is dealing with outside of work.
30. Carry someone’s groceries.
31. Donate books that you don’t need anymore. You can donate to libraries, hospitals, and more.
32. Spend some time on Free Rice. For each answer that you get correct, the website donates 10 grains of rice through the World Food Program to help end hunger. Plus, it’s free to play!
33. Donate your hair. There are several options for doing this.
34. Let someone check out before you in the grocery store line. They may be in a bigger rush than you.
35. Offer to help someone move. Yes, offer before they even ask you!
36. See how you can volunteer at a nursing home. You could make a new friend!
37. Cook someone a meal. Whether a friend just had a baby or if you know someone who is having a hard time, cooking a meal can mean a lot to someone.
38. Plan a surprise vacation for someone you love. This could be for your parents, your spouse, your children, friends, etc.
39. Become an organ donor. Check yes next time you’re getting your driver’s license.
40. Volunteer somewhere. The options are endless and there are plenty of volunteer-related random acts of kindness.
41. Register to donate bone marrow.
42. Tell someone’s boss that they have a great employee. Usually retail and restaurant managers only hear bad things, so going out of your way to say something good is always great to hear.
43. Check in on elderly neighbors when it’s very hot or very cold outside. You never know if their AC or heater may be broken.
44. Help someone who is being bullied.
45. Sponsor a family or buy gifts for the less fortunate for the holidays. I have a friend who has a family tradition of sponsoring a family every December. Everyone in the family pitches in so that another family can enjoy the holidays as well.
46. Give someone a HUGE hug.
47. Tell someone that you love them.
48. Put a nickel, dime, etc. in an expired meter that someone is parked at.
49. Loan money to someone on Kiva. Kiva is a non-profit where you can lend money to low-income entrepreneurs in 82 countries. You can start with as low as $25!
50. Send someone a hand-written letter in the mail. Taking the time to do this can go a long way.
51. Donate money to your favorite cause.
52. Give your seat up to someone else.
53. Invite someone who is feeling lonely over for the holidays.
54. Create ready-to-go-bags for the less fortunate that you come across. You can help the homeless by filling a bag with a small bottle of water, a quick snack such as raisins, gloves, toothpaste, a toothbrush, small packets of dog food (their dogs are hungry too!), and more.
55. Hold the elevator for someone else. Too many have the habit of pressing the close button several times in order to avoid this.
56. Try any of these found here. People are awesome!
57. Babysit someone’s children for free.
58. Let others be kind to you. People love to feel needed.
What recent random acts of kindness have you taken part in?
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