"No act of kindness, however small, goes to waste." – Aesop
When was the last time you did something for the common good? Not because someone told you to, or because you felt compelled by guilt. Not because you wanted to share it on your Instagram and feel validated for having 100+ likes. When was the last time you did a random act of kindness, just because?
The Science Basedbenefits of being kindIt has been proven time and time again to stimulate serotonin production, reduce anxiety, and even make you live longer. Paying it back with an act of charity is also one of the easiest things to do, but few people do it.
While many people think of good deeds as grand gestures, like spending weeks in a Sudanese refugee camp or donating a portion of your salary to save the turtles, it's these small, everyday acts that hold so much power. Viral Stories as Peoplehelp strangers pay for the purchasethey are responsible for inspiring other acts of kindness. So much so that kindness has been compared to a kind ofcontagious virusby scientists - one you really want to get.
As part of a powerful initiative to teach children the value of compassion and empathy, a school in IrelandAssigned Daily Acts of Kindnessinstead of the December task. For a month, the students did things like help an elderly person or take care of their own physical and mental well-being. The result is supposedly extremely positive and is considered a great success.
While it's good to get in the habit of paying early, it's never too late to start spreading the contagion of kindness. Here are 101 creative ideas for random acts of kindness to show someone else, anywhere, anytime.
free acts of kindness
1. Take an afternoon visit with seniors
2. Make cookies or cake for a neighbor
3. Prepare care packs of hygiene products for homeless people
4. Post notes with words of encouragement throughout the city
5. Take part in a charity run or walk
6. Collect old clothes and make packages to distribute to those in need.
7. Help a new mom: take care of her so she can get some sleep or take care of herself
8. Distribute a box of chocolates as a thank you gift to those who provide services to your community (police, nurses, mail carriers, firefighters, etc.)
9. Walking the neighbor's dogs
10. Help an elderly neighbor with some chores or gardening.
11. Read a story in a children's shelter
12. Write positive affirmations and quotes on paper and distribute them
13. Make bookmarks that encourage dropping off random books at the library.
14. Make activity packs for the children's ward at the local hospital
15. Donate books or puzzles to adult rooms.
16. Cleaning the house for those who need help
17. Donate gifts to children in foster homes
18. Share some love online by reviewing a random business or author
19. Take a few hours just to say something kind or encouraging to strangers.
20. Help a stranger load groceries into their car.
21. Spend time with a lonely family member
22. Make a coupon book for older relatives who may need help.
23. Help the elderly with some grocery shopping
24. Donate old toys and blankets to a children's shelter
25. Volunteer to tutor a struggling student
26. Join a tutoring program for kids with problems
27. Donate your hair to charity after getting a haircut.
28. Get in touch with a friend, just to say hi.
29. Donate food to a food drive.
30. Volunteer to serve at a cafeteria.
31. Give each member of your family a list of the things you like about them.
32. In lieu of birthday gifts, ask for donations to a chosen charity
33. Spread positivity: For a whole day, refrain from saying anything negative
34. Sacrifice something you love for sponsorship and donate all proceeds to charity
35. Support local small businesses by leaving a recommendation online.
36. Compliment a parent for a job well done. They need to hear these words.
37. Donate used books to schools and libraries
38. Listen to the stories that older people have to tell. Even if you've heard them before
39. Help someone organize their house
40. Instead of buying new clothes, have a swap night. Go out in new clothes and get rid of the old. What remains can be donated
41. Clip coupons, drop them in envelopes at random houses
42. Volunteer at a nursing home
43. Being there for a friend who is having a hard time
44. Practice patience by avoiding road rage
45. Start a friendly conversation with 10 strangers
46. Leaving old books on buses or trains with a note of encouragement for whoever finds each one
47. Help someone find a job
48. Prepare a meal for a family with a newborn baby
49. Have a “tech detox” day: Focus on genuine relationships with the people around you
50. Make sandwich packs to distribute to the homeless in the city
51. If you are musically inclined, play some music or sing at a nursing home
52. On garbage day, bring your neighbors' trash cans
53. Offer to run errands for a busy friend.
54. Washing a neighbor's car
Acts of Environmental Kindness
55. Pick up the trash
56.Plant a tree
57. Collect recyclable materials
58. Pick up dog poop on the street
59. Weed your community garden
60. Feed the birds at your local park
61. Plant flowers for the bees.
62. Start a community garden
63. Choose to walk, bike or hitchhike to save on car use
64. Build or buy a compost bin to use in gardens
65. Help in a campaign for abandoned animals to be adopted
66. Visit an animal shelter
67. Volunteer to help treat or clean up at a veterinary hospital
68. Help save water by turning off all running faucets or fixing dripping faucets
69. Buy some duffel bags and distribute them to other shoppers
70. Reduce the amount of meat you eat
71. Buy someone a plant
monetary acts of kindness
72. Buy some donuts and give them to someone random.
73. At the supermarket, pay a little more on the next person's account
74. Buy vouchers at a coffee shop and distribute them
75. If allowed, add change to someone's parking meter
76. Leave change in some machines at the local laundromat.
77. Buy a bouquet to distribute on the street
78. Buy or cook a meal for someone in need (individual or family)
79. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
80. Help with a fundraiser
81. Plan a surprise birthday party for someone
82. Send a card, letter, or care package to deployed Soldiers
83. Hire a maid or babysitter for someone
84. Pay the toll fees for the next car(s)
85. Buy extra school supplies for a child in need
86. Sponsor school lunches for a child in need for a week or a month.
87. When you go out to eat, buy a meal for the waiter
88. Hide random money around town for strangers to find
89. Prepayment of library fees for those who need it
90. When buying a movie ticket, pay for the person behind you
91. Host a "welcome home" party for a new family in the neighborhood
92. Buy lunch for the police officer or nurse on duty
93. Buy dessert for a family at a restaurant
94. Take someone to lunch or coffee
95. Ask your friends to join you in sponsoring a day for a children's shelter
96. Sponsor a needy senior to prom
97. Bring sweets to the office for your coworkers
98. Surprise someone with event tickets
99. Have a bouquet or gift delivered to someone anonymously
100. Paying for someone else's gas
Last but not least
101. Share the most contagious: a smile.
One of the biggest challenges we face is getting out of our comfort zones; this list will help get the ball rolling. So challenge yourself and those you knowpay in advanceand do some random acts of kindness for someone else today. You'll have fun doing it and we promise you'll feel great. Which of these random acts of kindness are you doing today? Even if it's small acts of kindness, you can make a big difference!
Go to a section below
- free acts of kindness
- Acts of Environmental Kindness
- monetary acts of kindness
- Last but not least