Right now, we all have something weighing on us: final exams, allergies, or job hunting, to name a few. Fortunately, we’re all in this together! You probably have a friend who feels just as rotten as you do. When you’re feeling down, doing something nice for a friend can help you both feel closer and less isolated. But how, you ask?
1. Go on an Adventure
Sometimes, a change of venue can rejuvenate us. Together, you can explore an unfamiliar part of your town, try a new restaurant, or experiment with a new activity, like rock climbing or watercoloring.
2. Bake!
There’s nothing like a good sugar rush to cure a bad day! Getting cookies baked by a friend makes them taste even sweeter.
3. Set Aside Time to Talk
Sometimes, a good heart-to-heart is all it takes. Inviting your friend to spill their worries allows them to unburden their hearts, and they may feel better after talking through their troubles.
4. Set Up a Skype Date
Alternatively, for those of us with friends at other cities or universities (or friends too lazy to get out of bed), there’s Skype! Set up a time and catch up face-to-face. Or, if you’d rather, there’s a fancy new website called Rabbit where you can watch Netflix together while video-chatting!
5. Decorate their Door
If you live nearby, decorating their door can be a fun surprise! You can go all out with streamers and glitter, or you can print out a million copies of their favorite meme and tape it all over their door. No matter what, they’ll never see it coming!
6. Make a List of Reasons Why You Love Them
Once you’ve listed all of the reasons why your friend is the best, you can do a bunch of different things: do a dramatic reading to your friend, hide it in their room or purse to be found later, or write it on their sidewalk in chalk. Use your imagination!
7. Write Them a Letter
By writing down your encouragements and love, you can tell your friend what they mean to you and how much you believe in them. While a spoken declaration serves a similar purpose, your friend can cherish this letter for years to come.
8. Tell Dumb Jokes
Knock-knock jokes and puns may be silly, but they're effective! To cheer up a friend, try the humorous approach and see if you can get them to crack a smile.
9. Make Them Something
Getting something handmade and heartfelt is always special! The what is up to you – a drawing, a poem, a card, anything that would make your friend smile.
10. Give Them a Pep Talk
Sometimes, we see the potential of others better than we see our own. Your friend might benefit from a reminder of their capabilities and awesomeness.
Now, go forth and be kind!
