Daily Good Deeds Lead To A Happier World

Day in and day out, we interact with hundreds of people. Our paths cross with classmates, coworkers and complete strangers, and chances are, we hardly give them a second glance. As classes pick up and we all get busier and more stressed out, I have a challenge for each of you: perform some good deeds. If you keep your eyes open for little opportunities to make someone else’s day a little better, you will find that you end up feeling better about yourself as well.

Clean Up After Someone

This can be as simple as picking up a napkin that missed the trash can, or as direct as clearing someone else’s place after a meal. This is a good deed you can do for a close friend or for a complete stranger–either way, it’s a considerate attempt to help someone else out. When in a bathroom, see if there are paper towels strewn around. By picking them up and throwing them away, you’re making someone else’s job easier while also showing respect for your surroundings.

Lessen The Burden

If you see someone with their arms full of bags or boxes, offer to help them carry their load, or at least open a door for them. Sure, we all push the door open for the people walking through it behind us, but going out of your way to help someone through a door is a great way of letting another person know that you sympathize with them, and that you want to make their day better. If you can afford the time, offer to carry a package or two for them. You never know, walking with them might just turn into a great networking opportunity!

Spare Some Change

While we are all broke college students here, try to set aside a dollar a day to give to someone who might need it. There are endless moments throughout the day that are opportunities to give. Buy a paper from the homeless, offer help to the person who is short on change in the cafeteria line, or drop it in a tip jar. While the amount may not be huge, the gesture is. Being selfless and willing to give are two attitudes that will help you through life, so why not cultivate them now?

These are just some suggestions, of course. The main idea is to keep your eyes open for those who need an extra hand or just a little smile. Think of good deeds you can do every day, and do them with humility and a smile. Some may go unnoticed or even unappreciated, but that doesn’t change the fact that you put in the effort. To be a college student is demanding and stressful, however, we also have the potential to make a difference, even if it’s a little difference to one person a day.