Acts of kindness involve selflessly helping others, making a positive impact and creating real connections through small, thoughtful actions.
A beginner's guide to: Acts of kindness
good deeds, altruism, charitable acts
Want to get into acts of kindness?
- • Open our free app for step-by-step support. You’ll get guides that help you start and stick with it. You don’t need to be a pro, just jump in and give it a go.
- • You’ll also find other activities, with suggestions that match what’s most useful to you right now. Less thinking, more doing.
- • Track what you do, make gains, and adjust as you go.
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What are acts of kindness?
Acts of kindness are about more than just being nice – they’re about making real, meaningful connections and being a kind person in your community. Whether it’s helping a neighbour, offering a few encouraging words or supporting a cause you care about, these small, thoughtful actions can truly make a difference. Each act of kindness has the power to lift someone’s spirits, foster a sense of community and even bring a bit of light to someone’s hard day. Ready to start making a difference, one small act at a time? Let’s explore how you can begin your journey of kindness today.
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Why acts of kindness are good for you
Kind acts boost mood and social bonds while enhancing self-belief. You'll likely experience reduced stress, greater emotional clarity and a stronger sense of purpose.
Direct increase in giving habits
Focus area: Generosity (Impact rating: High)
Strong rise in positive mood
Focus area: Lightheartedness (Impact rating: High)
Clear boost to closeness
Focus area: Social connection (Impact rating: High)
Moderate self-esteem lift
Focus area: Identity & worth (Impact rating: Medium)
Moderate stress-buffer
Focus area: Resilience (Impact rating: Medium)
People who love acts of kindness
Mahatma Gandhi
Person
Keanu Reeves
Actor
Marcus Rashford
Sports
Pay It Forward (Movie)
Movie
Want a closer look at acts of kindness?
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1 experiences
Ways to try it, what to expect, and how to stay safe. Read on!
We bet you’re itching to get some kindness out into the world, but it’s worth thinking about it a bit more deeply first and considering how you might go about it. Acts of kindness can be done in different ways, allowing you to choose a style that aligns with your personality and resources. To get the most out of this activity, these tips will help ensure you're set up for success.
Common styles
Random acts of kindness
Anonymous kindness
Online kindness
Safety
⚠️
Avoid situations where performing an act of kindness could put you or others in harm's way.
What you might experience
🤔
"Will this really make a difference?"
😬
"What if they don’t react well?"
😊
"That felt surprisingly good!"
😊
"I didn’t expect this to brighten my own day!"
💡
"I could do this more often!"
Start today
- • Open our free app for step-by-step support. You’ll get guides that help you start and stick with it. You don’t need to be a pro, just jump in and give it a go.
- • You’ll also find other activities, with suggestions that match what’s most useful to you right now. Less thinking, more doing.
- • Track what you do, make gains, and adjust as you go.
Explore your options
Whether you go it alone, join a group, or work 1:1 with a teacher, we’ve laid out what each path can look like.
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Unexpected advantages
Ancestry, history, facts and other trivia
In Pay It Forward (2000), a boy tries to change the world through random acts of kindness.
Kindness can release oxytocin, a hormone that lowers blood pressure and improves heart health.
Keanu Reeves is known for secretly funding hospitals and children's charities.
The concept of "random acts of kindness" gained popularity in the 1980s.
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3 facts
Popular memes
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9 memes
Academic research we rate
Practicing Other-Focused Kindness and Self-Focused Kindness Among Those at Risk for Mental Illness: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Nelson-Coffey, S. K., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & Schotanus-Dijkstra, M. (2021). Practicing Other-Focused Kindness and Self-Focused Kindness Among Those at Risk for Mental Illness: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741546
Comparing the effects of performing and recalling acts of kindness
Ko, K., Margolis, S., Revord, J., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2019). Comparing the effects of performing and recalling acts of kindness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(1), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1663252
Rewards of kindness? A meta-analysis of the link between prosociality and well-being.
Hui, B. P. H., Ng, J. C. K., Berzaghi, E., Cunningham-Amos, L. A., & Kogan, A. (2020). Rewards of kindness? A meta-analysis of the link between prosociality and well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 146(12), 1084–1116. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000298
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7 research pieces
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