We have created a list of daily acts of kindness to help you incorporate doing good into our daily routine, of the easiest ones to keep is to be better, to be kinder, and to do good deeds to help others.
Goodnet has compiled a list of small, simple acts that are sure to make a difference and can be done with little or no cost. Doing just one act of kindness every day, the world of 2024 can can be a better place.
Let’s dive into our new daily routine:
Say thank you
Gratitude is consistently linked with increased happiness and positivity and taking the time to say thank you can bring you closer and solidify the bond between you and the person you are thanking. Expressing your gratitude for things big or small is good for you and for the recipient.
Donate old blankets
Those old blankets that are just taking up space in your closet can make a world of difference to people in need! When you donate your old blankets you are providing warmth and comfort to those who so desperately need them. Donating your blankets can give people who are living in challenging situations a sense of hope and help them get through another day.
Gift an inspiring book
Reading a meaningful and inspirational book can change your life. Why not take the initiative and pay it forward by sending someone a book that you cherish and allowing it to enrich the lives of others. Books make great gifts because they can be thoughtful as well as thought-provoking.
Join a bone marrow registry
What better act of kindness is there than actively taking a step that might save someone’s life? It takes just a few minutes to join a registry and commit to saving lives. After joining the registry you will send a swab to the lab to be tested. Thousands of people in need are dependent on the registry to become recipients of life saving bone marrow transplants.
Throw out trash
When you take a few minutes to collect trash that was carelessly left behind in a public space, beach or camping ground you are helping the environment stay clean and green. Waste removal reduces pollution, helps improve air and water quality and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions.
Compliment a colleague
Want to make someone’s day? Paying a compliment to a work colleague is a mood-lifting act that can give a surprise boost to your colleague. Whether you point out something small or highlight their dedication and hard work on a big project, your kind words can make your colleague feel validated and valued and will go a long way to promoting a closer relationship with them.
Put a note in a library book
Imagine the feeling of opening a book borrowed from the library and finding a handwritten and thought-provoking note? Leaving a note inside of a library book is a fun and surprising way to engage future readers of the book. The note creates an air of mystery and contemplation for the reader about to embark on the journey of reading the borrowed book.
Make homemade soup
Nothing compares with the aromatic smells emanating from a pot of homemade soup simmering on the stovetop. Soups are full of healthy ingredients, serving up a quick and appealing meal in a bowl. So start chopping, make sure to use the freshest ingredients, and don’t forget heaping amounts of comfort and love. Your delicious, nutritious soup is bound to make whoever eats it feel better.
Feed the birds
Bird feeding can inspire you to care more about the fate of our feathered friends. By feeding them, you are helping birds thrive and develop. Birds in areas with feeders have been shown to be in overall better health. It is a profoundly sweet moment to watch the birds come close to you as they strengthen and nourish themselves.
Smile at a stranger
Smiling at a total stranger is the ultimate ice breaker. You will experience a moment of connection that can boost happiness and reduce negative emotions for both of you. A smile is a powerful act of human kindness that can build bridges between yourself and even the most unlikely of people.
Say I love you
Saying I love you is a healthy expression of affection. When you tell someone you love them you reinforce your feelings and let them know that they are important to you and they can depend on you. Verbally expressing your love creates emotional intimacy and can make you feel good by lowering stress hormones, and strengthening your immune system.
Spend time in nature
Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of your daily grind and heading out for a nature break will do wonders for your mood and mindset. Research shows that time spent in nature improves cognitive and mental health and reduces feelings of stress or anger. Just breathing in the beauty of a natural landscape can help you feel more relaxed and boost your overall confidence and self-esteem.
Plant a tree
Planting a tree is a great way to improve and beautify the environment.Trees give off oxygen and reduce erosion and pollution. Trees provide food, protection, and living environs for many birds and animals. Trees are always changing and evolving, with bright flowers in the spring, to the greens of summer and colorful hues in the fall.The beauty of trees can create a sense of calm wherever their roots are set into soil.
Send a get-well card
Get-well cards remind the recipient that someone out there cares about them and wishes them well. Often while combating illness, people can feel isolated, weary and lonely. Receiving a card and knowing that someone is rooting for their recovery can lift a patient’s spirits and help them stay strong during their journey to good health.
Hold the door open
Why not hold the door open for the person coming in after you? This small act of goodwill and graciousness will give you a sense of happiness and can make someone’s day. When you hold the door open for the next person, they will be inspired and are more likely to do something kind for someone else in the future.
Participate in Good Deeds Day!
Join millions of people around the world and participate in Good Deeds Day today! Since 2007, Good Deeds Day has been supporting global changemakers who desire living in a better world, to take impactful action by providing tools, inspiration, and a connected global network. Good Deeds Day is an opportunity to actualize the belief that every person has the power to create positive change in their community in the world.
Donate baby formula
One of the most important acts of kindness you can take on is to donate baby formula to families in need. Newborn infants and babies are particularly vulnerable and depend on consistent nourishment to grow and thrive. If you have baby formula you would like to donate, find a local organization that accepts donations and will match the formula to parents in need.
Recycle
Recycling is your way of saying I love you to the planet. When you recycle, you are reducing the amount of garbage in landfills and incineration plants. By reusing aluminum, paper, glass, plastics, and other materials, you save production and energy costs. Recycling literally makes the world a better place to inhabit.
Call an old friend
Reconnecting with an old friend is a lovely surprise gesture that can lift their spirits and warm their heart. Do not underestimate how much someone will appreciate receiving your unexpected phone call, text, or email. You will both feel more connected and happier to have had a moment of authentic, honest conversation.
Serve at a soup kitchen
The experience of spending a few hours serving at a soup kitchen is something that will remain in your heart for a long time to come. Providing nourishing food, together with your personal caring and conversation, can make all the difference to someone who finds themselves in a challenging life situation and in need of a hot meal.
Donate your hair
If you are able to, consider donating your hair to an organization that helps patients who are struggling with hair loss. By donating your hair, you can help provide these patients with wigs to boost their confidence during treatment and make them feel like themselves again.
Learn CPR
CPR is a critical skill to learn and can often be what saves someone’s life while waiting for professional medical assistance. A person who knows CPR becomes a valued member of a community, knowing that they can be called in case of an emergency. Learning how to save someone’s life might one day put you in the position to truly make a difference.
Pet sit
If you are an animal lover, consider offering your services as a pet sitter. Pet sitting can be a fun and rewarding experience. It’s like having your own pets, but without having the responsibilities that come with a long term commitment. Spending time with animals can reduce loneliness, provide connection and is great for your overall mental health
Apologize
When you find the emotional strength to be authentic and honestly offer an apology there are great benefits both for the giver and the receiver. Apologizing can restore trust in a relationship. It is often humbling to say I’m sorry, but in doing so you can develop courage and a sense of self-respect. Apologizing helps you remain emotionally connected, learn from your mistakes and show your vulnerability.
Help a friend move
When it’s moving day for a friend it is a great kindness to volunteer your services to come help out. Moving can be very jarring and overwhelming and providing support to your friend will surely warm their heart. When you work together toward a shared goal you are strengthening your connection in friendship. And who knows, maybe after a hard day’s work you will bond together over some pizza and ice cream.
Walk or run for charity
Participating in an organized walk or run for charity can raise funds and promote awareness for a cause close to your heart. Training for the event will get you motivated and will improve your health and wellbeing. And don’t forget – being part of a fun run is a great way to meet new people and build friendships.
Donate toys
Donating toys to children in need can bring them many hours of happiness and stimulation. All children, but especially children who find themselves in challenging situations, need the fun time as a distraction. Playing is crucial for children to learn and develop and make use of their imagination and creativity. The act of donating the toys is good for your soul and will make you feel happier too.
Help change a flat tire
You’ve probably been there, driving home after a long day, when suddenly you hear an unexpected rush of air coming from the bottom of your car and unfortunately find that one of your tires is flat. When you make the decision to stop and personally offer your assistance to someone on the side of the road who has a flat tire you are providing valuable hands-on help to someone who really needs it. Using a little elbow grease and teamwork you can help the person’s car get back on the road in no time!
Donate blood
When you donate blood you are engaged in your immediate community and provide tangible help to people around you. One blood donation can save as many as three lives. People usually donate because it feels good to help others, but donating blood can make you feel good too. Studies show that people who are regular blood donors often have lower blood pressure and are at a lower risk for heart attacks.
Read to children
Reading provides a wonderful opportunity for you to connect with children. Reading is good for kids on so many levels. It supports their cognitive development, improves language skills, helps with concentration and discipline and boosts imagination and creativity. For the reader it is a chance to give the gift of reading that can help children view literacy in a positive way.
51. Participate in Good Deeds Day on April 14, 2024.
52. Share this list with a friend.
Good Deeds Day, an annual global day of doing good, is the pinnacle of doing good year-round. Initiated in 2007 by businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison, Good Deeds Day has grown to 110 countries with millions of participants. Good Deeds Day 2024 is on April 14.
This article was originally published on Goodnet and appears here with permission.
