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
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