How to Do a Whole Lot of Good in Under a Minute

Five ways to spread cheer and help people literally right now

Photo: Johner Images/Getty Images

’Tis the season for Good Works, and volunteering at soup kitchens and delivering cookies to neighbors and all matter of other things that don’t really work as well in Pandemic Times. But altruistic activities are still important — apart from the obvious reasons, studies have found that acts of kindness make you feel much better about, you know, everything. And if you only have a minute to spare, well, that’s okay too. You can still:

1. Support a news organization. If this year has taught us anything, it’s the importance of reliable news sources. No pressure, but democracy really does die in darkness. Fund more of the work that holds our leaders to account.
2. Leave a good Amazon review. Okay, this one is directed to me: I read a lot of books, and I know that reader reviews and ratings mean a lot… and yet… I never take the 23 seconds it would take to write a favorable review of a book I loved. I should! We all should. Ditto for any great thing we bought and truly adored —from that underrated true crime novel to that life-changing cheese grater.
3. Thank the person who got you here. Reach out to a former boss or colleague to express gratitude about their role in your career. This is the kind of…