This practice is part of the
Time Required
Varies depending on your acts of kindness. Could be anywhere from several minutes to several hours.
How to Do It
One day this week, perform five acts of kindness—all five in one day. It doesn’t matter if the acts are big or small, but it is more powerful if you perform a variety of acts.
The acts do not need to be for the same person—the person doesn’t even have to be aware of them. Examples include feeding a stranger's parking meter, picking up litter, helping a friend with a chore, or providing a meal to a person in need.
After each act, write down what you did in at least one or two sentences; for more of a happiness boost, also write down how it made you feel.
Why You Should Try It
We all perform acts of kindness at one time or another. These acts may be large or small, and their beneficiaries may not even be aware of them. Yet their effects can be profound—not only on the recipient but on the giver, as well. This exercise asks you to perform five acts of kindness in one day as a way of cultivating feelings of kindness and happiness in yourself, so that you can extend kindness to your local community and the world.
Why It Works
Researchers believe this practice makes you feel happier because it makes you think more highly of yourself and become more aware of positive social interactions. It may also increase your kind, helpful attitudes and tendencies toward others in your family or your community. Evidence suggests that variety is key: There's a risk that kindness can start to feel routine, so it helps to approach it with a spirit of curiosity, always looking for new ways to express your care and kindness and looking for new people to help.
Evidence That It Works
Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111-131.
People who performed five acts of kindness every week for six weeks saw a significant boost in happiness, but only if they performed their five acts in a single day rather than spread out over each week. This may be because many acts of kindness are small, so spreading them out might make them harder to remember and savor.
Who Has Tried The Practice?
While there is no demographic information in the study above, additional studies explore how this exercise benefits other groups and cultures:
- After reviewing 10 studies testing this exercise, a 2018 review suggests that the overall effect of kindness on well-being is not significantly influenced by sex, age, or type of participant.
- A 2014 study also found that Random Acts of Kindness “worked equally well regardless of participants’ gender, age, or education.”
- Male Chinese prisoners who were asked to perform three acts of kindness daily for six weeks significantly improved in well-being compared to those who did not.
- Female middle school students in Hong Kong who performed online acts of kindness increased in self-esteem and social self-efficacy.
- Japanese people who counted their own acts of kindness for one week became more happy, kind, and grateful.
- South Koreans and Americans similarly increased in well-being when performing kind acts in a 2013 study. However, in a 2019 study, while Korean Americans who performed acts of kindness increased in well-being, South Koreans did not.
More research is needed to explore whether, and how, the impact of this practice extends to other groups and cultures.
Sources
Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
References
Curry, O. S., Rowland, L. A., Van Lissa, C. J., Zlotowitz, S., McAlaney, J., & Whitehouse, H. (2018). Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76, 320–329.
Datu, J. A. D., Ping Wong, G. S., & Rubie-Davies, C. (2021). Can kindness promote media literacy skills, self-esteem, and social self-efficacy among selected female secondary school students? An intervention study. Computers & Education, 161, 9.
Drozd, F., Mork, L., Nielsen, B., Raeder, S., & Bjørkli, C. A. (2014). Better days—A randomized controlled trial of an internet-based positive psychology intervention. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(5), 377–388.
Layous, K., Lee, H., Choi, I., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). Culture matters when designing a successful happiness-increasing activity: A comparison of the United States and South Korea. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 44(8), 1294–1303.
Otake, K., Shimai, S., Tanaka-Matsumi, J., Otsui, K., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2006). Happy people become happier through kindness: A counting kindnesses intervention. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-being, 7(3), 361–375.
Shin, L. J., Layous, K., Choi, I., Na, S., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2019). Good for self or good for others? The well-being benefits of kindness in two cultures depend on how the kindness is framed. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(6), 795–805.
Yang, Y., Zhao, H., Aidi, M., & Kou, Y. (2018). Three good deeds and three blessings: The kindness and gratitude interventions with Chinese prisoners. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 28(5), 433–441.
Quick Description
Performing Random Acts of Kindness not only helps others but can boost your happiness, as well. How kind and generous are you? Take the Altruism quiz to find out:
Comments
and Reviews
Nancy O'Neill
Worked well.
Nancy O'Neill
Effective.
Nancy O'Neill
This went well.
Nancy O'Neill
Good. I think it is valuable to make a list. However, I think it is even better to do what you can and be grateful that you can offer new Acts of Kindness as they occur to you during the week. The idea sort of develops in one's mind during the week and yields inspiration.
Joan Bowers
Mary was pleased to accept good wishes for her cruise (on a small vessel) to Alaska. I sent a note to a friend about the photograph that he posted. It was easy and true when I told him how much I liked it and that I was happy to know he's still working at it. I stopped to buy stamps at the post office. I think the clerk who helped was surprised that I made my decision easily so he didn't have to show quite a number of styles that were available. I bought those stamps so I can volunteer to send get-out-the-vote letters to "blue" states. It's almost end of the day and I truly feel good about these experiences. Sent a note to a friend in hospital who was just transferred to rehab facility where she can get more care to prepare her to go home.
Sondra U Atkinson
Very rewarding. Most people are surprised by any type of kindness. I enjoy the surprised looks, comments.
Claudia Jean Stewart
I wasn't able to do 5 random acts of kindness in one day. But one day I made cheddar and bacon muffins for a group of people. Another day I gave back a friend's container with my moussaka in it. And yesterday I chatted for a long time with a friend who is ill. Also listened to my sister who enthusiastically told me about a soup and a loaf that she made that was new to her. Sometimes people need an ear, and encouragement.
Susan Whitney
It is always possible to do random acts of kindness through emails, telephone calls and letters or cards sent by mail.
Susan Whitney
It is easier to be kind than to be unkind. It is more important to be happy than to be right.
Carol Primus
Sometimes it hard because of covid fears. but i keep on trying to help folks who need or ask for help.
Jeremie Foley
It felt good to make other people happy. It’s a simple task but sometimes we forget to say out loud what we are already thinking.
Janet Martin
I find myself feeling happy and fulfilled when I do something nice for others. If I’m feeling sad or out of sorts I like to send e-cards to family and friends. The receivers often reply back to me and that brings up my spirits. Volunteering at Red Cross blood collections is a great way for me to spend a bit of my retirement.
The Greater Good Toolkit
Made in collaboration with Holstee, this tookit includes 30 science-based practices for a meaningful life.
The Greater Good Toolkit
Made in collaboration with Holstee, this tookit includes 30 science-based practices for a meaningful life.