Make it worth your time. 40 acts of service that take four minutes (or less).



 –Mother Teresa

Once a month I add 10 more quick service ideas to the list below. We are now up to 40 in total. Several of these ideas came from your suggestions which I sincerely appreciate. Each new idea serves this site, but also has the potential to serve many more. That’s what’s so great about service – each act starts with you, but you never know where it will end.

40 ways to serve in 4 minutes or less

  2. Loan someone a book you love.
  4. Treat a pet with kindness and respect.
  6. Turn off and unplug electronics you aren’t using.
  7. Pick up trash that wasn’t properly discarded.
  8. Give someone more credit than they deserve.
  9. Hear gossip and refuse to spread it.
  10. Believe someone’s dream is possible. And tell them. They need the support.
  11. Fight indifference. Let yourself feel sadness when you see a homeless person.
  12. Tell someone you forgive them. And mean it.
  13. Put a Band-Aid in your wallet to give away when needed.
  17. Make a small online donation to a charity you support.
  19. Listen carefully. Many people yearn to be heard.
  20. Thank a teacher for their service.
  21. Tell someone a joke.
  23. Actually take your reusable bags into the store with you.
  24. Actually take your reusable cup into Starbucks with you.
  25. Pray for someone.
  26. Teach someone something. Anything.
  28. Give someone you love your undivided attention.
  29. Hold a door open and wait while multiple people pass through.
  30. Take time to write a supportive comment to someone on Facebook.
  31. Hug someone.
  32. Share any online article that raises awareness of a service need.
  33. Let that busy person behind you go ahead of you in line.
  34. Leave change in a vending machine.
  35. Pay the toll for the person behind you.
  36. Thank a solider for their service.
  37. Discuss with a younger relative a piece of your family history.
  38. Cheer loudly for someone else’s kid.
  39. Give away an extra umbrella on a rainy day.
  40. If you love them, tell them.

What ideas are missing from this list?

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