When it comes to the holidays, it’s not uncommon to get a little lost in the hustle and bustle of gift-giving. Trying to find the “perfect” gift can be a challenge at times. Should you buy something new, opt for a second-hand treasure or should you DIY a gift to make it a little more personal? Well, in all honesty, any of those could be viable options. If you’re looking for a truly eco-friendly gift, though, one you can give to anyone at anytime and it doesn’t need to cost a lot, try giving the gift of kindness.

We could all use a little more kindness in our lives. Besides, what’s nice about it is you don’t even need to know someone to be kind to them. A simple act of kindness could be exactly what someone needs to brighten their day or turn their frown upside down.

People always talk about how you never truly know what someone is going through. Their life could be going really well or they could be struggling to stay afloat. Either way, an act of kindness can go a long way.

Simple Acts of Kindness

Here are a few, simple acts of kindness you could gift this holiday season:

• Smile at a stranger
• Hold the door open for someone
• Say good morning/afternoon/evening to people you see while out and about
• Offer a sincere compliment to someone who least expects it
• Pick a piece of trash up off the ground and dispose of it in a nearby trash can
• Offer to lend a hand to someone carrying a heavy bag
• Leave a note of encouragement in a public place
• Send a thank you note to someone who helped you
• Donate unused, or slightly used, clothes and toys
• Help out at a local food bank
• Spend some time visiting residents at a long term care facility
• Volunteer at an animal shelter
• Congratulate someone on a job well done
• Allow someone else, with only a few items, ahead of you in line
• Invite a new neighbor over for game night or a holiday get-together
• Engage in a heartfelt conversation with someone
• Help someone in need
• Make a meal for a friend or neighbor
• Offer to babysit for a busy parent
• Offer words of encouragement to another
• Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile to see how they are doing

This list could go on and on, but I hope you get the idea. One of the most eco-friendly, and least expensive, gifts you could give this year is a simple act of kindness.

Share Your Acts of Kindness

If you have other acts of kindness you’d like to share, please comment below. We’d love to hear how you spread the holiday cheer!