11 Simple Ways to Make Someone Smile Today (That Cost Little or Nothing)

Style / By / December 14, 2025

Is there someone in your life who could use a smile? Maybe it’s your mom, dad, little brother or sister. Or maybe it’s your best friend, spouse or colleague. Whoever it is, here are some easy ways to make them smile! With natural disasters and tragedies happening in the world, we’re in greater need of positivity than ever. Let’s spread a bit of joy and laughter around.

Ways to Make Someone Smile Today

You don’t need to spend a lot of time or money to make people smile. There are so many little things we can do.

Sometimes it’s as simple as lending a listening ear, or telling a funny story. Other times, it might require a bit more effort, like sending a handwritten note or taking someone out for coffee.

No matter what form it takes, though, making someone smile is always worth the time and effort. Here are some ways to get started!

Most of the tips here are easy and won’t cost a penny, so there’s no excuse not to try them. 

1. Random Acts of Kindness

Have you ever seen the movie Pay It Forward? A school class is challenged by their teacher to come up with an idea to make the world a better place.

A 12 year old student comes up with the idea of doing a favour for 3 people. They have to pay it forward by doing a favour for 3 other people, and so on.

Of course, you don’t have to go to such lengths but even just one kind gesture such as offering to help an elderly person to carry shopping will go a long way. There’s actually a World Kindness Day on November 13 each year, as well as a Random Acts of Kindness movement, with a Kind blog and the possibility to become a RAKtivist.

If you’re travelling abroad, consider supporting Pack for a Purpose by taking useful items that you no longer need that will be invaluable for the locals in your destination country.

Simple ways to make someone smile today | #gratitude | #LifeTips
Unsplash – Practice random acts of kindness

2. Start a Gratitude Journal

Not only will keeping a gratitude journal make you smile, but it can really help others to smile too. Let them know that they made it into your journal by something sweet that they’ve done for you.

So if your partner cooks you a nice meal, tell them that you enjoyed it so much that they’ve made it into your gratitude journal! Everyone likes to feel appreciated.

You can start by making a list of all the things you’re grateful for right now. Try keeping this journal each night before bed, and be sure to write down one thing that made you happy or feel loved today.

This will help your brain associate happiness with positive memories instead of negative ones. That way, even if something upsetting happens later on in the day, it won’t have as much impact on how you feel overall.

After practicing gratitude daily for just two weeks, people are more likely to show empathy toward others. And being empathetic means they will also experience more joy themselves!

Write in a gratitude journal and count your blessings
Unsplash – Keep a journal of gratitude

3. Laugh a Little

One of the best ways to make someone smile and lighten their day is through laughter. A little laughter can be enough to bring a smile to just about any face, no matter how sad or grumpy they are feeling!

What’s more, it’s contagious – when we laugh at something together with someone else, it helps make them feel included and connected. So don’t be afraid to show your own emotions and find something funny to share with your friends and loved ones.

No matter if it’s a silly prank you saw on TV or an amusing story one of you experienced recently – when you take the time for a moment of shared laughter, you can be sure that it will have people smiling in no time.

Tell a joke or watch a silly film but laugh as often as you can. Making someone smile is contagious and there are serious health benefits, including lower blood pressure, the release of endorphins boosting your immune system and even helping you tone your abs.

Ways of making someone smile
Unsplash – How to make someone smile

4. Surprise a Stranger

Do you love reading but don’t know what to do with all the books that you’ve finished and won’t read again? It’s always possible to donate them to the local library or charity shop.

However, there’s another thing you can do with them, that’s guaranteed to put a smile on a random person’s face. BookCrossing is the act of releasing a book into the wild for a stranger to find, or via a controlled system where other members can hunt for it.

You can then track the progress of your book around the world via journal entries. It’s fascinating to see where some of them end up.

Geocaching is another way to leave a surprise for a stranger. It’s an outdoor treasure-hunting game with millions of geocaches dotted around the world and great fun for children.

Geocaching is a great way to make strangers smile
Pixabay – Geocaching is a fun outdoors activity

5. Wear Something Zany

Whether its flamingo sunglasses or a brightly coloured top, this is a sure-fire way to make someone smile. On a rainy day, we like to pick the brightest raincoats we have, and pair them with a color clashing umbrella for good measure ;-).

A bow tie is one of the quirkiest clothing items yet its also extremely elegant. Although they are associated with gentlemen, bow ties can look just as good on a girl and the element of surprise is an added bonus.

Would you ever have guessed the origin of the bow tie? It was actually mercenaries in Croatia in the 17th century who used a scarf tied around their neck to hold their shirt together! It became popular as a cravat in France and then evolved into the bow tie.

Fun clothing that makes you smile
LuxuryColumnist – Fun clothing guarantees a smile

6. Compliment Someone

Whether it’s on their appearance, skills or something else, people love a compliment. Even if you’re shy, don’t hesitate to tell people that you love their outfit or baking talent, for example.

We all enjoy being complimented, so get free and easy with handing kind words out. If you live in a big city, it’s also a way of feeling slightly more connected to your fellow citizens.

Great ways to compliment someone
Unsplash – Make someone smile today

7. Get in Touch with Loved Ones

Make a phone call or Zoom call to a friend or family member. It lets them know that you have been thinking about them and is guaranteed to put a smile on their face.

Or go really old-school and write them a letter. This will be particularly appreciated by those who are old enough to remember the days before Internet and emails.

Reading a letter from a loved one
Adobe – Reading a letter from a loved one

8. Smile at Others

As Mother Theresa once said, Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. Wouldn’t it be nice to be that person who makes everyone feel like they’re the only person in a room, just by smiling at them?

Best ways to make someone smile
LuxuryColumnist – Best ways to make someone smile

9. Share Your Time and Expertise

Volunteering will not only help others smile but it will make you feel wonderful too. There are lots of different ways to get involved.

You can tailor it to your interests such as being a volunteer tutor for school children or a tour guide at a local historic house. If you’re worried about the time investment, consider a short-term event such as handing out water at a local charity run or picking up rubbish in a park.

Volunteers picking up garbage
Adobe – Volunteers picking up garbage

10. Give a Gift

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, so whether it’s a home-baked cookie or tickets to a new play they’ve been wanting to see, you’ll get serious brownie points. Or simply make them a great cup of tea! Check out our suggestions for the best Mother’s Day gifts, gifts for foodies and gifts for travelers for more ideas.

Give a gift to make someone smile today
Adobe – Give a gift to make someone smile today

11. Leave Encouraging Sticky Notes

Place uplifting messages in unexpected places – library books, public restroom mirrors, coffee shop counters, or colleague’s workstations. These surprise discoveries can brighten anyone’s day.

Keep your messages simple and universal, like “You’re doing great!” or “Someone believes in you today.” Consider using colorful sticky notes or fun shapes to make them even more eye-catching.

The anonymity of these notes makes them feel like little gifts from the universe, and you’ll never know whose day you might completely turn around with just a few encouraging words.

Leave motivational sticky notes around
Adobe – Leave motivational sticky notes around

In Conclusion: Ways to Make Someone Smile

These are just a few of the many ways to make someone smile. We hope this article has given you ideas on how to brighten up your day or someone else’s. These simple things don’t cost anything but can have a huge impact in another person’s life. And remember – laughter is contagious so get out there and do something fun today!

What are your favourite ways to make someone smile?

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10 Simple Ways to Make Someone Smile Today | How to spread joy around you | #smile | #laughter | #joy
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Suze and Paul are the founders of LuxuryColumnist, one of the leading luxury online magazines worldwide.

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109 thoughts on “11 Simple Ways to Make Someone Smile Today (That Cost Little or Nothing)”

  3. Jacquard Flower

    Such a great post! The watches look really fun too. Hope you are having a great start to your week. Gemma x

  4. Joanna

    I agree that smiling at someone will automatically generate a smile back. I go to the gym every day in the morning and while everyone is still grumpy and didn’t properly wake up at that time, we still smile at each other instead of hellos, even if we don’t know each other personally.

    1. Suze

      Maybe I should try that on the London tube! You’re good to go to the gym every day. Exercise endorphins make me feel happy

  6. Tracey Best

    What a lovely post! I do a lot of these on the daily & that made me smile!!! I love the photo of the watch over Big Ben, haha!

  7. Michelle Marcos

    I love this so much!! Pay it Forward had a great message but it was SUCH a sad movie! lol Haven’t seen it in years! I’ve been writing what I’m grateful for everyday and it seriously does help so much! Thanks for the smile today! 🙂

  8. Jinzo_2400

    The big thing here in the States is “rocking”…you find a small rock,paint it,put waterproof sealing around it and then hide it in the open and tell folks on social media where its at….I have a rock I found while walking.

    1. Suze

      Ooh I never knew that, I’m itching to try it if I visit the States soon! Thanks for the info and I’ll keep a look out for it on social media

  9. Lena Eriksen

    Thanks so much for a reminder – those small gestures are so valuable. Have heard about Pay it forward here in Norway as well 😊

  10. Frankie | TheMayfairy.com

    I like number 6 – a friend of mine once said that you should never miss an opportunity to say something nice to someone and it’s true. I forgot that it actually takes a little bit of effort to be a nice person, but it’s so worthwhile in the end xx

  11. Ana De Jesus

    Aw what a lovely positive post! I like the idea of creating a gratitude journal and making someone laugh. Laughter is infectious x

  13. Laura Dove

    Ahh I love this, I love random acts of kindness and making others smile, it’s such a lovely way to live.

  16. Rhian Westbury

    Great suggestions, I think doing nice things for people and generally just having a smile on your face makes a big difference x

  17. Melanie Edjourian

    What a lovely post and a nice way to encourage people to do nice things for others. Smiling makes a big difference. I’m smiler and find people tend to be that bit friendlier because of it.

  18. Laura @ What's Hot?

    I recently started a gratitude journal actually! I haven’t stuck to it very well but it has made me more appreciative of what goes right in life instead of dwelling on the bad.

  19. Louise O'Brien

    Genuinely loved this post because it’s so true and great tips. I love the idea of a gratitude journal as I always feel grateful fir what I have but actually writing it down is a wonderful idea x

  20. Leah Shafik

    This is a great post – it’s lovely to make someone smile. I have always wanted to do something really nice, a random act of kindness but planning it makes it less random lol x

  24. Brad Start

    I like The Richmond. I try to make people smile by always being polite (such as holding doors open for others) and always smiling at others.

  27. Kristie Metcalfe

    The Richmond is the one I like most. I would try and make someone smile by paying for somebody elses order in a coffee shop.

  28. Anthony G

    My favourite is The Richmond. I also like The Westbury.

    “Smiling is contagious, you catch it like the flu; when someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
    I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin, and when he smiled I realised I’d passed it on to him.
    So, if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it undetected; let’s start an epidemic quick and get the world infected.”

    🙂

  31. Hungry_Healthy_Happy

    I love doing little random acts of kindness. Even if it is jusy paying for the person behind me coffee.

  36. Baby Isabella

    It’s really nice to compliment someone and we try to do this at least once a day to lift moods. One kind gesture makes you feel good too!

  39. Helen Clark

    This is such a brilliant post. I love the random acts of kindness movement and often do things like that. There’s nothing quite like a little gesture that makes someone else smile and happy. I love the book idea and will definitely look in to that next time I have books I’ve read.

  40. Katrina Adams

    I would make someone smile by surprising them with something – such as flowers just because or buying them some treat me’s with a letter letting them know they are amazing. I like both the Flint and The Bath

  41. David Waterworth

    I love the richmond design and I would wear something zany, in fact I had loads of silly ties which I would wear to work, I tried for a different one every week

  42. haxell

    I like the Dover (giving it to my husband would certainly make him smile!). Generally speaking though I like to smile at – and speak to – people I come across every day. Some respond, some don’t but often someone seems very pleased to have a little chat about the weather etc. I loved this post – I’ve often said much the same and if everyone tried to make just one person’s day better every day how much happier the world would be. Hazel Rea – @beachrambler

  43. Sarah Ann

    I started a gratitude journal and it was one of the best things I ever did. I love random acts of kindness, even just the smallest things like taking the time to properly thank someone can really make someone’s day.

  44. Rebecca Brown

    The Shetland is brilliant!
    I make people smile with small acts of kindness like compliments or encouraging people to come together over shared home baked yummies

  48. Miriam - londonkitchendiaries

    Lovely ideas on how to make someone smile – love the idea of book crossing and it is so easy to just smile at someone and give a little compliment 🙂

    Miriam x

  50. Ryan Biddulph

    Hi Suze,

    Excellent advice.

    I follow many of these tips. Especially smiling at folks.

    I especially love smiling at folks here in NYC. Some look away to ignore, others may even scowl, but I keep smiling, and not more folks smile back or at least nod. We do change the world one smile at a time, and it is so key not to let some folks who suffer – the unsmiling ones – to change our vibe.

    I have more compassion for these folks, these days, only because I know some suffering or pain or fear causes them not to smile, which ultimately I had to overcome, to be as bouncy and happy as I am today.

    Bonus points for those random acts of kindness. Hold the door open for a stranger, or do anything seemingly little, and you will feel better while brightening up someone’s day.

    Thanks for sharing Suze.

    Ryan

  56. Joanne Casey

    I like the Flint. Love your tips! I’ve made my mum smile today by taking a cooked meal round for her and my dad so she can rest her leg she injured when she fell a couple of days ago

  57. Laura Marie

    This is a lovely post Suze, a smile can literally change a persons day for the greater good. You both look so gorgeous with your bow-ties!

    Laura xo
    www.shehearts.net

  65. Any Galván

    Really enjoyed this post! It’s always nice to read about ways on how to make others smile!

  67. GCforever

    I love the Edinburgh and the Kenley. A little surprise gift is my favourite way to make people smile.

  70. Rajeeva Jayaratne

    i like The Halifax.
    if i win and give this watch to my nephew he will really smile.

  71. Becca Talbot

    I love the tip to wear something zaney – because it’s so true! One of my friends Garnet used to wear a random outfit to the office once a week, sometimes it was a hat, sometimes an unusual pair of glasses, once she even came to the office wearing a fluffy onsie. Whatever crazy stuff she wore, she didn’t care, and was comfortable with it. Which instantly made everyone else smile x

  72. Rachell Lynch

    the Richmond is cool. i try to make people.smile all the time, simple things like telling strangers they look nice or by sending my partner something nice in the post.

  74. Mrs Broomfield

    I love to make other people smile. In fact, I have my own Random Acts of Kindness blog which I use to give people ideas of kind things they can do for others.

  76. Cheddarcakes

    Richmond tie and best way to make someone smile is give them a cup of tea and hot buttery crumpets!

  79. piggy99

    Love the Cambridge. By complimenting someone on how well they look is uplifting. Raises self confidence and feel good factor.

  82. Simone Griffin

    I would love to gift the Newcastle watch to a dear friend who lives there – that would make them smile x

  83. Patricia Whittaker

    I love The Shetland. I would make somebody smile by taking round some vegetables I have grown on my allotment.

  85. Jacqueline Roberts

    The Flint is lovely. I think the best way to make someone smile is to smile at them

  88. Tracey

    I personally love the Newcastle but hubby likes the Edinburgh xx The best way to make someone smile is to make them laugh or pay them a compliment 😀

  91. tracey anderson

    My most favourite is the ‘Newcastle’ watch 🙂
    Make someone smile by showing them you care. Just simply allowing them you’r seat on the bus, letting them go before you in a queue or even grabbing a hot drink for the homeless person on the street is such small tokens but can mean so much to others 🙂 x

  92. Jacqui Rushton

    I love the Dover design – I like to make people smile by showing them a picture of my gorgeous little rabbit Niles, who is such an adorable cutie!

  93. Christine Connell

    I needed this today! Such a great post and we need more people to think like you 🙂

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