One Tiny Thing You Can Do to Boost Happiness All Weekend

Not that it should be the reason we do something good, but doing something kind for others has been scientifically proven to increase our own happiness. And, honestly, I see nothing wrong with using that information to pull myself out of a slump by doing something for someone else; it’s winning all around. As happiness expert Gretchen Rubin says, “Do good, feel good; it really works.”

This weekend, we’re going to do, as opposed to a random act of kindness, a purposeful, targeted act of kindness. We’re going to write a positive review for a business we enjoy.

Apartment Therapy Weekend Projects is a guided program designed to help you get the happy, healthy home you’ve always wanted, one weekend at a time. Sign up now for email updates so you never miss a lesson.

Think of a restaurant, shop, or service center where you had a good experience. If you can think of a privately owned, local business, the impact will be even greater. Go to that company’s page on Facebook, Google, or Yelp and write about your experience there, why it was good, why you’d go back, why you’d recommend it to someone else. If relevant, include a picture with your review.

Once you’ve written the review, before you post it, copy it. Then go to the other sites you didn’t leave a review on yet and paste your review there as well. These few extra minutes to leave the review in as many places as possible will go a long way in supporting a company that deserves more business.

Alternately, if you’ve had a recent good experience with an employee, you could write a personal commendation for that person and email it directly to their boss or manager. It will probably only take a quick phone call to get the email address you need, and this simple gesture could mean so much (a raise, a promotion, or even just a compliment) to the person it’s about.

In a world that sometimes feels so full of mistakes and complaints, spreading news about the good and the pleasant will make everyone involved happy. Knowing you’re making others feel good feels good. And, hey, it might even inspire you to keep the positive vibes flowing with an additional review or two.

You can catch up with weekend projects right here. Share your progress with us and others by posting updates and photos on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #atweekendproject.

Remember: This is about improvement, not perfection. Each week you can either choose to work on the assignment we’ve sent you, or tackle another project you’ve been meaning to get to. It’s also completely okay to skip a weekend if you’re busy or not feeling the assignment.