Do something nice:Six tips for good deeds that take

less than five minutes.

“Do good, feel good”is one of the great truths of happiness — but you may be thinking, “Sure, good deeds would make me

happy, but I barely have time to get through the

essentials of my day.I don’t have time to do

any good deeds!”

WRONG.

Here are some ways that you can help other people—and make yourself feel great, at the same time—

in under five minutes.

1. Be friendly. I’ve decided that there are five degrees of social

interactions with strangers: hostile, rude, neutral, polite, and friendly. I find it very difficult to

be downright friendly to strangers, but I always find

myself energized and cheered by a friendly interaction. It only

takes an extra minute to exchange a few pleasant words, but it makes a real difference.

2. Say

If you can, and if you

should, say “yes.”

My sister, who is a TV-writer in Hollywood, once told me, “’Yes’ comes right away; ‘No’ never comes.” I’ve found this precept to

be widely true. In many circumstances, we find it hard to say “no” — partly because it will hurt someone’s feelings, partly because it closes a possibility that could otherwise remain

open. But waiting to hear “no” saps people’s energy by keeping them hoping for an answer they aren’t going to get. If someone

is waiting for your “No,” put them out of their misery.

3. Say

4. Sign up on the national organ-donor registry. This takes no time at all, and the consequences could be HUGE! Tell your family that you signed up, too. Remember, the one minute that someone takes, right now, to sign up on the

registry might save YOUR life six months from now.And vice versa.

It can feel generous, friendly, and fun-loving to urge people to take another piece of cake,

to drink another glass of wine, or to make an extra purchase, or to

urge them to give themselves a break by

skipping the gym, skipping class, or

quitting smoking next week instead of today.

But when you see people truly trying to

resist temptation, encourage them to stick

to their resolutions.

5. Lead them not into temptation.

Don’t you sometimes wish that someone would do one of your little jobs?If nothing else, to show an awareness of the fact that you faithfully do it,day after day? Emptying the diaper pail or starting the office coffee-pot,

even though it’s not “your” job, helps people feel appreciated and cared for.

6. Do someoneelse’s chore.

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Learn more tips for a happier life at

GretchenRubin.com