It is easy for college students to get down-in-the-dumps about test grades, relationships and even just having a busy schedule. At times it may seem hard to even get through the week, let alone the rest of the semester and it gets even tougher the closer we get to midterms week. We have all felt this way and it is important to realize that other people around you might be having a bad day, week or year and have gone through experiences that you might know nothing about. When you think someone might need a pick-me-up, here are a few ways to make someone’s day!
1. Leave them a nice note.
If it’s a roommate or a friend or even someone in one of your classes, let them know that you are thinking about them. Give them a compliment or tell them how much you care about them in a small note. Even the smallest thing can make a world of a difference.
2. Give them a hug.
If you can tell that one of your friends is clearly upset about something, don’t be afraid to pull them aside and give them a hug. Knowing that you have someone there for you can make you open up about your feelings instead of keeping them all in, causing less stress and a more positive attitude.
3. Smile!
When a stranger smiles at you, doesn’t it instantly make you feel so much more positive about the day ahead? When people see other people happy, they begin to feel the same way!
4. Buy them their favorite candy.
I know when all of my friends are feeling down, sweets are always the way to their heart. Sweets give an instant pick-me-up when someone is having a hard day.
5. Ask them how they are doing.
And I don’t mean the expected, “hey, how are you?” kind of thing. Ask them sincerely how their day is going and see what you can do to make it even better.
6. Pay a compliment to a stranger.
Have you always loved the girl sitting in front of you in class’s hair? Why don’t you tell her?! You never know if someone might be having the worst day of their life and a simple compliment can make them feel like a million bucks.
7. Buy the person behind you in line’s meal.
As college students, we get poor and we get poor quickly. However, if you have a little extra cash to spare, buy someone’s lunch in Central or his or her coffee in the Wired Scholar. This starts a cycle of kind acts and a “pay-it-forward” attitude!
These are easy, simple and heartfelt ways to make sure the people around you know you are there to listen and care for them! Make sure to let those people know that they are not alone!