20 small things you can do to make the world better

Recycling is a very simple thing that can be done without even really thinking about it. Set up another can to toss recyclables into instead of throwing them into the garbage. Also, don’t be scared to pick up a recyclable item out in the world and place it where it needs to be. That’s not only recycling but also helping ensure pollution is lessened.

With everyone always buried in their phones, it’s easy to forget that humans once interacted in person. So smile when you can.

Donate clothes to a shelter or a thrift store. Shelters help those in need, and thrift stores reduce fashion waste.

Look up and experience the real world again.

The change one wants to see in the world starts on a local level.

For bonus points, go for a walk without a phone, strike up a conversation with a stranger, and get back in touch with the world around you.

Blood banks are always in need of donations, and plasma is a whole other beast. Plasma is a longer donation process, but it can go on to help in huge ways, such as with cancer patients.

See a parent out with their kids alone at a restaurant, a college kid stressed and studying at the local coffee shop, an older person struggling to count change at checkout? Tell the waiter, barista, or cashier you got it today.

Texting has made the phone part of phones kind of obsolete because, yeah, it’s way easier to text someone. However, hearing the voice of a loved one can make all the difference in someone’s day.

There are countless ways to volunteer on a local level: Animal shelters, reading at the library, and community clean-up events. See, the possibilities are endless when it comes to volunteer opportunities so it’s not hard to find something tailor-made for everyone’s specific interests.

Minimize that carbon footprint by utilizing public transportation.

Grandparents don't hold onto all those old letters because they are a hoarding generation. They do it because a handwritten note is sentimental, especially in a day and age where everything is online. No one is saying to write a novel; it's just a quick note to let someone know they're being thought of.

Remember a few years ago when everyone and their mother got into gardening? Let’s get back to that.

Desserts make the world go round, and don't forget to share!

Brighten someone’s day with a simple compliment, and perhaps they’ll do the same to someone else, and thus, a chain of compliments spreads.

Reading helps expand the mind, and in this day and age, everyone can use it a little more.

Go through cabinets every so often and donate food that’s been there awhile (but that’s still got some life in it) to local food banks or churches. Don’t toss what could feed someone else just because you don’t want it.

Are puppies and kittens adorable? Um, duh. So are older animals, though. Plus, adopting older animals increases the likelihood of them being house-trained.

Getting one bottle will save not only a lot of money but also plastic.

Not every single negative thought that pops into one’s head has to be shared on the internet.