Let’s face it, the world can be a horrible place – if it’s not the state of world politics, it’s climate change, natural disasters or the dregs of the past dragging us down. Social media has a way of making us feel isolated even if we’re connected 24/7. So, for this years National Random Acts of Kindness Day, join us in making a difference. Here are five little acts of kindness you can do to brighten a stranger’s day… in real life.

Compliment Someone

How good does it feel to be complimented? Someone saying something nice about you can really brighten or make your day. If you regularly travel on public transport to work why not compliment someone’s outfit, makeup or simply say “You look great today” or “I hope you have a great day”. Words have power, use them wisely.

Pay It Forward

Ever heard of the phrase “do good for others and good will come back to you”?

Paying it forward can be as simple and inexpensive as buying the next person’s coffee on your next visit to Pret. Or if you’re feeling particularly generous you can pay for someone’s meal on your next restaurant visit. 

The same goes for buying coffee or a hot meal for someone you see sleeping rough. It can make all the difference to their day.

Talk

We spend so much time tapping on our phones, tapping at a keyboard or staring at a screen watching Netflix. The real-life conversation is replaced by instant messaging and frankly when was the last time you spoke to a stranger without asking for directions?

It may sound odd but why not strike up a conversation with someone, it doesn’t have to lead anywhere but human contact and being social is important for our wellbeing. Some helpful starters:

–   “How is your day?”

–   “The weather is nice, isn’t it?”

Smile

Smiling is free. Just don’t be creepy and start smiling like The Joker.