20 Small Acts of Kindness that Will Spread Love and Make Somebody’s Day

If you ask me, the best part about the holiday season is the spirit. There’s a magical potion afoot—everyone is thinking about family, friends, and higher powers, plus the end of one year and the beginning of the next. It really puts things into perspective.

As you work through the Holiday Cure to improve the inside of your home for you and the people you share it with, you can also take small steps to make things outside your home a tiny bit better, too. Share a smile, spread some kindness, and do what you can for the people you share your community with, too.

I’ll get it started for you today…

That’s right: Let’s get the holiday spirit started early! Choose one small act of kindness you can do today, and do it.

I put together a list of ideas, but the options are truly limitless. Any kind thing you want to do for somebody else is fair game.

1. Buy a coffee for the person behind you in the drive-through.
2. Leave quarters at the laundromat.
3. Buy a gift from a friend’s small business. They’ll appreciate your support and you get to check one gift-buying task off your list.
4. Return all the carts at the grocery store.
5. Take a walk and pick up any litter you might see.
6. Send a “thinking of you” text to somebody you haven’t spoken with in a while.
7. Send a handwritten letter or crafty greeting card to a friend or family member.
8. Leave a glowing review for a local small business you love. Head to Facebook or Yelp and leave your positive notes.
9. Rake a neighbor’s leaves for them, or blow the leaves off their yard or patio, or shovel the snow from their sidewalk before they wake up.
10. Leave your favorite book in a “little free library.” You can find one near you with this map.
11. Leave an inspirational note for a coworker through your office chat or Slack.
12. Sneak a five dollar bill into your partner or roommate’s pocket.
13. Call the library and pay somebody else’s library fees.
14. Find a few things around your space to donate, like towels to an animal shelter or clothes to a women’s home. Or take your delivery box and mail it back with donated items for Amazon’s Give Back Box program.
15. Leave a box of cookies on a neighbor’s doorstep.
16. Steal a chore from your partner or roommate’s to-do list. Do the dishes even though it’s their turn.
17. Make a small donation to a charity you support. Charity Watch’s list of the top rated charities is a good place to start.
18. Write a thank you letter to a service member. You can send your letter to Operation Gratitude to be included in a future care package to our troops.
19. Write a thank you note to the nurses at your local hospital, first responders at the fire station, or librarians at your favorite library. Include flowers or a treat if you’re able.
20. Leave cold drinks and snacks out for your postal carrier and delivery drivers. Add a sign that says “Thank you delivery drivers!” and “Help yourself.”

If you’re going to do something that’s not on this list, let us know in the comments so we can share even more ideas for spreading a little grace and love today and everyday.

• Sign up for email updates
• Visit the 2020 Holiday Cure page and catch up on assignments
• Save or print your own Holiday Cure tips workbook
• Download the Holiday Cure calendar
• Join the Apartment Therapy Cure Facebook group