We’ve all heard the sayings about doing your good deed for the day, so I’ve compiled a list of things you can easily do to spread joy and do your own good deed for the day.
- Compliment someone.
It really doesn’t matter what you say or how well you know the person, more times than not a compliment will be well received. Telling someone their hair looks nice, you like their shoes, they have a nice smile. Any little compliment can majorly boost someone’s self esteem and make their day, you don’t know how much they may need it.
2. Give food, water, anything really to the homeless or homeless shelters.
Some people understandably feel uncomfortable about giving homeless people living on the streets their hard earned money as they don’t know where it’s going to be spent. However, giving them food, water, hygiene products, even a blanket helps their basic human needs be met. A good one is gift cards for supermarkets or coupons for free items.
3. Give your unneeded items to charity.
There are so many charities that accept your unneeded items. Such as women’s shelters, children’s charities etc who will take clothing, toys, bedding etc. It’s far better than tossing it out when someone could use it. Obviously there is always your local charity shop which will also take these things.
4. Donate to charities.
That spare change in your purse, that penny change from your 99pence coffee, it all adds up. You may think that your coppers won’t make a difference but if everyone is giving their coppers it all really adds up and makes a difference to the charity/ cause. Obviously, if you can afford and want to donate more than coppers then this is a massive help.
Speaking of, my marathon starts in just a few days so here is the link for my fundraising (half way to target!) https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/caitlin-tawse-mha-acis
5. Donate blood.
If you are able, there have been many recent appeals for more blood donors. You could be saving a life.
6. Sign up to be an organ donor.
You may not be able to do this much longer since in Spring 2020 England will have an “opt out” rather than “opt in” system, and Scotland will presumably follow. Getting your little pink card can fill you with so much joy when you think of the fact that 411 patients died in the UK last year because they were waiting for an organ transplant. You may not be around to see it, but you could save multiple lives
7. Send something to a sick child.
“Post Pals” are a UK organisation with a massive bank of sick kids available on their website where you can select some and receive an address for them. You can send an email, letter, card, even a gift to them. These kids are going through horrible things and a small card from you could really brighten their day.
8. Thank people.
Whether it’s your nurse, your doctor, your waitress, your barista, your mum, your grandad, anyone. A simple thank you and basic manners will get you far in life.
9. Tell people how much they mean to you.
You never know what’s going on in someone’s head or who is thinking that no one cares about them. Your words from the heart can be so uplifting when someone needs it.
10. Get someone a small gift, just because.
Gifts don’t have to be for a birthday or Christmas, and they don’t have to cost much (or any) money. Picking up something because it made you think of someone is super thoughtful, and thoughtful gifts are always the best kind. Hence why homemade gifts are great, they’re straight from the heart and show the effort you’ve put in just to make someone smile.
11. Write handwritten notes.
Just like homemade gifts, handwritten notes can hold a lot of sentimental value. Give one to your mum, dad, grandparents, even your favourite customer at work.
12. Be nice to wait staff.
Say please and thank you, put your dishes away (if there is somewhere to put them, obviously), tip them, just be nice.
13. Praise people.
If someone is doing well, tell them! Recognition and appreciation are so important.
14. Take pictures of your friends/family having the time of their life.
You see your mother having fun with your brother, she’s too busy living in that moment, snap a picture for her so she can remember it forever.
15. Offer a parent help with their buggy on the stairs.
If you’ve ever tried to push a buggy up a set of stairs on your own you’ll know how much of an absolute nightmare it is. Don’’t be the person that just walks past, be the one that offers them a hand. They will definitely appreciate it.
16. Do things without being asked.
Whether it’s emptying the dishwasher, polishing the tv, cooking a meal for someone else, it will be well appreciated by whoever it is that you’re saving a job.
17. Pass on your parking ticket.
Say you’ve paid for three hours and only used one, pass it on to someone coming in or leave it at the machine for someone else to get the use of.
18. Support small businesses, blogs, art, etc.
You don’t even have to necessarily buy anything from them, even giving a like or comment on their post (which is essential with the new instagram algorithm!) to show support or tell your friends about them. It all makes a difference. It’s especially important to remember that small business owners usually already have busy lives, they may be a full time parent or carer starting a business to generate extra cash for their kids’ dance lessons, or they may be like me, a student with a part time job who is selling bits and bobs that she loves to make, but could also use the extra money coming in.
While I’m on this topic here’s my business facebook page https://www.facebook.com/caitlintawsecrafts/
instagram @c_tawse / @caitlinswanderland 