1- Give compliments and offer encouragement.

Compliments fulfill people’s emotional needs and make them feel great! While giving compliments might not be what you traditionally picture when you think of helping people, it absolutely does help. Offer compliments to everyone around you, giving sincere praise while celebrating their successes and qualities that you admire the most.

• For example, you could tell your sibling how great they are at basketball or compliment a co-worker on a job well done after they do a presentation.
• Compliment your significant other if you have one. Be earnest and remind them how smart, gorgeous, and talented they are.
• Give compliments to strangers, too. You can make someone’s day just by stopping long enough to tell them how awesome their Star Wars shirt is or how much you love their blue-dyed hair.

2- Do a chore for someone else.

Tackling another person’s chores is a great way to make their day easier. When people get busy or stressed, chores and jobs often slip through the cracks. Find out from your family and friends what they're too busy to do for themselves, and set aside some time to do the chore for them. Take care of chores without being asked, too—just look for a job that needs doing and take care of it.

• This could be anything from cleaning up after dinner to mowing a lawn. You might surprise a family member and wash their car or make your spouse’s lunch for them before work.

3- Send a thoughtful note or care package.

You can help just by letting people know that you care. Take time to send your loved ones notes, handwritten cards, and even care packages with special treats inside. When people feel isolated or cut off from their friends, even a small gesture can help them feel more connected and make their day brighter.

• Write a nice email or letter and casually mention a reason why you like the recipient. Reminisce about something fun you did together, or bring up one of their best qualities.
• Include some of the recipient’s favorite snacks or home-baked goods in a care package, combined with little things that they might enjoy. For example, you might send a new sketch pad if they’re artistic.

4- Say “thank you” and express appreciation.

Receiving thanks makes people feel great about themselves. Plus, showing gratitude will make you happier too! Express your thanks when someone does something nice for you, and let your loved ones know how much you appreciate them even when there’s nothing to thank them for specifically. Practice gratitude by creating a list of things you’re grateful for and sharing them with others.

• For example, send someone a quick “thank you” note if they give you a gift, or thank your friend for buying you dinner.
• Make a social media post about how much you appreciate your spouse’s support as you change careers, or tell a friend how proud you are that they ran a whole marathon.
• Be especially nice to underappreciated people—like the person bagging your groceries or bussing your table at a restaurant. Their jobs are often thankless, but a few kind words might lift their spirits.

5- Volunteer for local organizations.

Volunteer work improves your community as a whole. Look around for a charity you’d like to support, like a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, and spend time there doing whatever needs to be done. Not only will this help others, but it’ll also give you a newfound appreciation for all the good things in your life—and it’ll make you a more compassionate person.

• Work at a battered women's shelter and help women and children who have had traumatizing experiences get back on their feet.
• Try tutoring homeless children at the local shelter so that they can stay in school and not fall behind because the economy has been difficult for their families.
•  Volunteer for hospice and listen to the stories of the people who are going through their final days, or volunteer at a nursing home and ask to spend time with the people who don’t get visits from family.