You may have heard about this study: Scientists gave people $5-$20 and asked them to either buy themselves a treat or spend it on someone else. The folks who spent it on someone else were happier. This has been replicated and crosses all kinds of socio-economic, national, and cultural lines. Giving makes us happier than we expect.
But what if someone isn't handing you $20 right now? What if times are tight and you have every reason to feel down?
Here's a way to give for free: Pick an author who has written a book you like. Someone alive. And the less famous, the better. Go to Goodreads. Write them a nice review. Copy it. Post it to the websites of a bunch of online and brick-and-mortar bookstores. You can do all of this in ten minutes.
And then, do you know what will happen? You will make that author incredibly happy. Way more than anything you could have purchased for $20. And when you know that, you will feel happier. Even in dark times. Even when you have good reason to be bummed. Because you will have done a very kind thing for someone who will really appreciate it.
Of course there are lots of other free ways to be kind which will make you happier. We think of this one because we love authors and see how much good reviews mean to them. But please, do those other kind things, too. Feel better by doing good. You deserve it!