25 Ways To Show Kindness To Others On National Do Something Nice Day

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25 Ways To Show Kindness To Others On National Do Something Nice Day

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25 Ways To Show Kindness To Others On National Do Something Nice Day

13 min read SEP 29, 2025

Key Takeaways

National Do Something Nice Day is observed each year on October 5th. While similar to National Random Acts of Kindness Day, which is celebrated in February, this day encourages individuals to intentionally take time out of their day to do something nice for others.

Do Something Nice Day encourages positive engagement with others.
Such days remind us of our shared connection with humanity as well as the importance of kindness in this world.
Showing kindness by doing nice things for others improves mood, self-esteem, multiple aspects of physical health, and enhances your social connections.
Some ways to observe Do Something Nice Day include sending cards in the mail, buying coffee for a friend or coworker, mowing your neighbor's lawn, picking up trash in your neighborhood, volunteering, and cooking a meal for a friend or neighbor.

National Do Something Nice Day

National Do Something Nice Day is observed annually on October 5th.

And, if you look up information about this day, you’ll find it is commonly likened to National Random Acts of Kindness Day, celebrated each year on February 17th.

The definition of the word nice is even listed as “the act of being pleasant or kind.”

So, it seems there’s little to no difference between these two terms. Likewise, there’s very little difference in the intent behind each of these national days of observance.

…which begs the question, why would we celebrate two days with similar intent less than 6 months apart?

Actually, let me rephrase that question - why don’t we celebrate each and every day with a conscious bent towards kindness?

While there is (technically) a slightly different intention behind each of these days, the reality is we could all use a reminder now and then of the importance of kindness in this world.

Being nice, or doing something nice, to your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, strangers is a vital part of living a happy, peaceful life.

The problem is, too often we get caught up in our own busy schedules and lives, letting our duties and stresses triumph over the common need of kindness.

The Dalai Lama once said - “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

So, today we’d like to explore those possibilities, looking at how we can intentionally show kindness, or intentionally being nice, on National Do Something Nice Day (and any other day for that matter).

What Is National Do Something Nice Day?

As we mentioned above, Do Something Nice Day is celebrated each year on October 5th.

Oftentimes such days have a history behind their origin or cause, but this one lists no root other than a collective desire to fill this world with a little more kindness, providing an opportunity for others to, well, as the day’s name explicitly states, do something nice for others.

This day is commonly thought of as a close sister to National Random Acts of Kindness Day, but one distinction between the two comes down to planning.

Random Acts of Kindness Day prompts us to think about spontaneous acts of kindness, doing something kind for others on a whim, in a quick moment, at random.

But Do Something Nice Day potentially involves a bit more intention.

Sure, you could randomly show kindness to others on Do Something Nice Day, but the goal here is to put a little extra thought into your gestures, to take a moment out of your day and do something nice for your family members, neighbors, co-workers, etc.

Why? Because we all need to be reminded from time to time to be nice, or kind.

It’s no secret that most of us have mile-long to-do lists, hectic schedules, and a hefty load of responsibilities.

And I’m sure you’ve heard the common exhortation to make sure, amidst your busy schedule, that you take some time for yourself - for self-care, to unwind, to de-stress, etc.

Well, what if I told you, it was just as important to break from such busy routines and spread a little bit of kindness in the world around you?

Community and connection are a vital human need.

And, doing nice things for those in your life (strangers included) helps to foster a positive community, it meets the crucial human need for connection, and it creates a ripple effect of kindness that can spread all throughout your neighborhood and beyond.

When we focus on kindness, the way we view the world changes, and in time, the world becomes a better place.

We understand this in terms of science - “every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”

But why does the principle of Newton’s Third Law of Motion seem allusive when it comes to kindness?

Think about it, if showing kindness or doing something nice was the first action in Newton’s equation, then what would happen to the world around you?

According to this scientific principle that we all know to be verifiably true, acting in kindness towards others will produce an equal or even greater force of kindness in return.

Let’s take the workplace for example - what do you think would happen if kindness was entirely removed from your work environment? No niceties, no appreciation, no kindness shown between colleagues?

As you can likely imagine, this would be a disaster on multiple levels.

Productivity would likely decrease. The overall atmosphere would be depressive at best. And I could only imagine that anxieties and tensions would arise as well.

Such an environment would be neither productive nor healthy.

Now, let’s flip the script.

What do you think would happen in an office environment where colleagues sought to show kindness to one another on a regular basis?

What if your boss regularly complimented your successes?

Or, what if you sought to routinely bless your coworkers with gestures of kindness, doing nice things like bringing in coffee for everyone on a Monday morning, or bringing fresh flowers from your garden to grace the breakroom table?

What if your colleagues regularly left little notes of appreciation for your aid, help, or routine work?

And, what if clients regularly did nice things like bringing a plate of cookies to show their gratitude, or if your work team sought to make a positive impact on your local community by volunteering at a nearby shelter?

Honestly, I don’t think a description of the outcomes of each of these scenarios is needed as I can imagine each and every one of us know exactly how these two environments would differ.

And, that’s just it - most everyone knows the value of doing nice things for one another.

The thing is, sometimes we just get caught up in the hum drum of day-to-day life, so much so that such gestures and generosity can easily slip by.

Enter days such as National Do Something Nice Day…

It’s easy to think there’s no need for such a holiday, but let’s be honest, a world without kindness, or a world without nice gestures, isn’t much of a world, is it?

But, just in case you need a bit more motivation to deeply consider the need for kindness, check out the following…

The Circle Of Kindness

When we put good out into the world, good returns back to us.

Some call this the ripple effect, others call it karma, but no matter your terminology here, there’s no denying the fact that when we intentionally seek to do good unto others, to show kindness or seek to do nice things to/for others, that kindness returns to us in many ways.

Most of these returned blessings come in the form of health benefits, as doing good to others benefits you physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Studies have shown that doing nice things for others releases a surge of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. These are often called the ‘happy hormones’ as they immediately improve your mood, but they also bring long term benefits to your mental health, such as:

- Enhanced feelings of connection to others
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Reduced cortisol levels
- Greater feelings of calm
- Fosters a positive outlook on life
- Reduced symptoms of depression
- Boosts your mood

As showing kindness prompts the release of endorphins and serotonin, your stress levels decrease, inflammation throughout your body decreases, and the production of antibodies increases, all of which strengthen your immune system.

In other words, your immune system serves you more efficiently and effectively when you show kindness to others.

Doing nice things for others can even improve the health of your heart.

Studies have revealed that showing kindness reduces inflammation and lowers blood pressure. Furthermore, the benefit of reduced stress levels doesn’t just improve mental health but also reduces strain and stress on your heart.

Then, the release of oxytocin improves circulation as it dilates your blood vessels, another factor which positively impacts the health of your heart.

When you do kind things for others, the release of endorphins from such actions can serve as a natural painkiller.
Doing nice things for others often involves a measure of generosity, and this attribute has been shown to increase your lifespan.
Your connection to others (as a whole, not just the recipient of your kindness) improves when you do nice or kind things for others.

Even better, as you seek to do nice things for others, be it your neighbors, family members, friends, co-workers, or strangers, you’re not only improving your own health, but you’re bringing many of these same benefits to the recipient of your kindness as well.

Studies show the person on the receiving end of kind gestures often feels less isolated or lonely as such actions strengthen social bonds and foster an overall sense of community and belonging.

So then, how can we reap these rewards?

In other words, let’s close out by taking a look at Do Something Nice Day…in action.

25 Ways To Bless Others On National Do Something Nice Day

Now it’s time to see kindness in action!

Below you’ll find 25 ideas to engage your heart and mind, items you can either implement as-is or use as a springboard to then modify according to your personal intentions and situation.

The goal is to simply be grateful for those people who are actively in your life, as well as those you meet at random, so much so that you seek to do something nice to let them know you care, to communicate your desire to simply brighten their day.

…an action that we’ve clearly seen to be a common catalyst for further kindnesses, for better days, and a better world!

1- Bring/buy a cup of coffee for your co-worker(s)

Leave early for work one morning so you have enough time to stop and buy a round of brews (coffee, that is) for your co-workers, team members, or boss.

Or, if you’re able to, gift a bag of Lifeboost Coffee to your co-worker or neighbor.

(I work from home, so I don’t really share a workspace with others. With this in mind, I’ve shared cups and gifted bags of Lifeboost to my neighbor from time to time, and I can tell you this was a joyful day-brightener…for both of us!)

2- Send a card or note in the mail

Texts and emails have become our go-to method of communication these days. But, this just makes a handwritten card or note even more special.

Nice texts or emails communicating care and kindness are great options too, but if you can, opt for snail mail and send a card or note to a friend, family member, neighbor, etc.

3- Buy/Send flowers

You don’t need an occasion to send flowers. In fact, anytime I’ve received flowers on “non-special” days, these have meant slightly more as the seemingly random gesture can amplify the kindness behind the action.

4- Plan a special evening with/for your family

Surprise your family members by planning a special, fun evening. This could include board games, a movie night, or a “fancy” dinner, etc.

Every now and then I’d plan a candlelit dinner for my kids, complete with fancy napkins, an elaborate food spread, and a special dessert. Such evenings truly made them feel special!

5- Bring/buy breakfast or lunch at the office

Bless your co-workers by bringing in pastries for breakfast or sandwiches/salads for lunch.

6- Volunteer

Alone, as a family, with your friends, or with a team of co-workers - schedule a time when you can volunteer at a local shelter or food pantry, giving of your time to spread kindness within your community.

7- Leave a positive review

Enjoy a great cup of coffee? What about a fabulous dinner?

Have a great experience at the salon? Do the staff members at your gym bring a smile to your face?

Plan to return these kindnesses by leaving a positive review for such people and businesses.

8- Clean up your neighborhood

Set aside some time to do a neighborhood clean-up, picking up trash or beautifying common areas.

Don’t think this would brighten someone’s day?

A few months ago, a storm rolled through our neighborhood, bringing a bit of wind along with it.

Unfortunately it blew through on trash day, so a lot of debris ended up in the empty field/lot near the end of our street.

After roughly a week of this unsightly scene, my spouse decided to simply walk through the field and pick up the scattered trash, which led to a series of comments expressing gratitude for this gesture on our neighborhood Facebook page.

“Whoever picked up the trash at the end of our lane - you really made my day!”

“That clean field really brought a smile to my face!”

…yep, you can even do something nice anonymously.

9- Donate items to a shelter

Clean out your closet and donate unused/gently used items to those in need.

10- Leave a generous tip

When dining out (or receiving any tip-worthy service), plan to go above and beyond, blessing your server (etc.) with a generous tip.

11- Send a care package

If you have a friend or family member who is away at college, in the military, or perhaps simply a loved one who lives far away, send a care package filled with their favorite items to show the person that you’re thinking of them.

12- Mow a yard, walk a dog

Offer to walk your neighbor’s dog or plan to mow your neighbor's yard.

Especially in the case of those neighbors or family members who may struggle to do these things, it would likely mean a lot to be the recipient of such a nice gesture.

13- Gifts for mail carriers and delivery drivers

I’ve seen folks commonly do this during the holidays, but you can break that mold and plan to do something nice for your mail carrier or Amazon/UPS/etc. drivers by leaving a note of thanks, a bottle of water, and a few snacks for these individuals.

14- Cook a meal

Surprise a friend, neighbor, or family member by cooking and delivering a meal to ease their dinnertime load/stresses.

15- Baked goods for community servants

Bake some cookies or brownies, pick up some pastries, or prepare a healthy snack and bring it to your local police, fire, or EMS station, communicating heartfelt thanks for these community servants through an act of kindness.

And finally, here’s a few quick gestures to consider as well…

16- Open the door for others.

17- Compliment a stranger.

18- Pay for the person’s order behind you in a drive-thru.

19- Leave post-it notes with compliments around the house for your family to see.

20- Donate blankets and pet food to an animal shelter.

21- Help a co-worker with a task.

22- Read a book to your children.

23- Let someone go ahead of you in line at the store.

24- Carry groceries for an elderly person.

25- Offer to babysit for your friends or neighbors, for free.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.

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