As you may know, Random Acts of Kindness Week is officially February 12th through the 18th.
A random act of kindness is any small and selfless action that is taken by an individual or a group, meant to cheer up or better the life of another. To celebrate this notable week, and to inspire people to commit a random act of kindness, here are 101 ideas of random acts of kindness that you can do all on your own.
- Write an anonymous note of encouragement to someone who needs it
- Bake a treat for a friend
- Make random act of kindness rocks
- Give someone an unexpected compliment
- Tell the manager about a great waiter/waitress
- Email and inspirational journalist or blogger
- Send a care package to a soldier
- Offer to babysit for free
- Make sack lunches for the homeless
- Put a quarter in an expired meter
- Support someone’s charity campaign
- Leave a copy of your favorite book on the bus or train with a note in it
- Pay for the person behind you at the drive thru
- Volunteer your time caring for animals at the animal shelter
- Donate blood (finally)
- Buy coffee for a stranger
- Leave quarters in vending machines
- Return a shopping cart for someone
- Take your parents out for lunch (and insist on paying)
- Cook a meal for a family with a new baby
- Let someone in line go in front of you
- Check up on someone you haven’t talked to in awhile
- Tips a service worker who wouldn’t expect it
- If you can sing or play music, offer to perform for free (such as in a nursing home)
- Offer to help someone move
- Tell a parent in the store that they’re doing a good job
- Do a task that nobody else wants to do
- Clean up litter around your apartment building or your favorite park
- Leave quarters in the laundromat
- Take a few extra minutes to clean gym equipment
- Donate used books to the library
- Write a positive comment on a website or blog
- Bake an adult a cake for their birthday
- Offer to tutor someone in a subject for free
- Offer items and clothing you don’t use for free to someone else
- Introduce yourself to a new neighbor
- Pack extra snacks and offer them to your coworkers, friends, classmates, etc.
- Write to a soldier
- Order something online and send it to someone anonymously
- Do someone else’s chores for a day
- Tell someone you believe in them and their dreams
- Leave a positive review on social media of one of your favorite companies
- Take a neighbor’s trash can to the curb when they forget
- Help the kids in your life commit a acts of kindness
- Offer to care for someone’s cat or dog while they go out of town
- Leave a bigger tip than usual
- Buy sidewalk chalk for the kids in your neighborhood
- Bring soup to a sick friend. Leave it on their door step and then text them to let them know it’s there.
- Collect box tops to give to your local school
- Put together a travel kit for kids and give it to a family that you know
- Volunteer your skills and talents
- Offer a ride to someone who you see walking in the cold or the rain
- Write a letter to someone in prison
- Put your phone away when you’re with your friend
- Tell someone what makes them unique
- Email your professors from the previous semester and tell them what an impact they made
- Donate your old eyeglasses
- Put sticky notes of positive messages in public bathrooms
- Call someone just to say hello and that you miss them instead of texting them
- Offer to sit down and talk to someone who’s having a tough time. Just listen. Don’t offer advice unless they ask.
- Hold the elevator for someone
- Bring someone chocolate
- Bring someone flowers
- Buy toys on sale and donate them to toys for tots
- Wash someone’s car for them
- Take a friend out to lunch and insist on paying
- Buy from a neighbor kids school fundraiser
- Offer the person next to you some gum
- Get someone a customizable gift
- Go and visit a relative you haven’t seen in forever
- Help someone carry their groceries up to their apartment
- Be kind to customer service reps over the phone. They’re just doing their job.
- Offer to be someone’s workout partner at the gym
- Treat yourself to a manicure or pedicure – you deserve some kindness too!
- Make amends to someone you may have hurt in the past
- Donate diapers, wipes, and non prescription medicines to a homeless shelter or women’s shelter. They’re always in need.
- Tell someone what a good job they’re doing
- Decide you don’t need something at the store? Put it back where you found it. Don’t leave it in a random place.
- Let someone in your lane while you’re driving. They’re in a hurry, just like you.
- Volunteer to coach a kids sports team
- Offer to play boardgames with the elderly in a nursing home. Many of them never have visitors
- Offer to give your friend a DIY spa treatment at home
- Run your partner a hot bath
- Give someone a massage
- Make gift baskets for the teachers in your life
- Put together a photo album of you and your best friend
- Save coupons for someone who actually uses them
- Give someone a hug
- Organize a service scavenger hunt with friends
- Thank a soldier for serving their country
- Donate household items and clothing to refugees
- Smile at everyone you meet
- Give a newly married couple a honeymoon gift basket
- Tell someone you care about them
- Host a game night for your friends and provide snacks
- Learn your friend or partner’s favorite dish and make it for them
- Skype with a friend who lives far away
- Make a list of nice things people have done for you and try to pay it forward
- Light a candle for someone
- Become an advocate for someone
- Do any of these random acts of kindness and don’t tell anyone about it
Vanessa, the founder of Nerdy Millennial, is a compassionate Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner from Nebraska. She specializes in complex trauma (c-PTSD) therapy, providing support to clients of all ages, including children, teens, and adults. Vanessa is a Certified Trauma Professional (CTP) with expertise in attachment-based interventions. Additionally, she is actively pursuing play therapy (RPT) and EMDR certification and is trained in sandtray therapy.
Alongside her therapeutic work, Vanessa is also a certified birth doula. With her doula training, she offers compassionate support to individuals and families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, ensuring a nurturing and empowering experience.
Vanessa's commitment to supporting individuals on their healing and transformative journeys shines through her expertise in trauma therapy and her compassionate approach to birth support. With her diverse skill set and passion for holistic well-being, Vanessa strives to provide comprehensive care and education.
Alongside her therapeutic work, Vanessa is also a certified birth doula. With her doula training, she offers compassionate support to individuals and families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, ensuring a nurturing and empowering experience.
Vanessa's commitment to supporting individuals on their healing and transformative journeys shines through her expertise in trauma therapy and her compassionate approach to birth support. With her diverse skill set and passion for holistic well-being, Vanessa strives to provide comprehensive care and education.
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