The first time I heard the phrase "Random Acts of Kindness" was in high school, when this new student org was formed dedicated to this purpose. Random acts of kindness are just that, simple daily reminders to anyone -- a family member, a close friend, a complete stranger -- that they are important and valued. I think in this day and age, we get so caught up in our own lives that we barely pause to remember that everyone else usually has it just as, if not harder, than we do. I know it always makes my day when a friend takes the time to make me feel special.

Whenever I feel upset or stressed now, instead of wallowing in my own situation, I try to do one small thing for someone else. They usually respond positively and that itself makes me feel happy that I was able to create some type of change, even if it wasn't productive in the sense I usually view the word. I heard somewhere that it takes seven acts of positivity to counter one negative experience, and if that is true (and even it isn't!) we can be sure we'll be better off spreading the love. So here are 5 ideas for random acts of kindness you can do whenever and wherever you are to brighten everyone's day.

1. Text a friend an encouraging message. This is probably the simplest and quickest thing you can do. I usually accompany these with a bitmoji or two. A GIF never hurt anyone either.

2. Buy someone their favorite candy and leave it on their desk with a personalized note. A friend did this for me once when I was really stressed out and it made me feel so supported. Also the candy is a nice reminder to treat yo'self. If you're a baker, the candy can always be substituted with homemade treats.

3. If you're in high school or on a sports team where lockers are used, stick post-it notes on as many as you can with positive vibes. This was one of the things the club I mentioned earlier did. They wrote messages like, "You look great today," and "You got this, keep on going!"

4. Pay it forward. Standing in line at Starbucks for your daily cup of coffee in the morning? Pay for the person behind you, and watch as they hopefully feel compelled to continue the trend.

5. Burn a personalized CD. Music is one of my favorite ways to destress and nothing makes me feel as nostalgic and comfortable as a physical CD. If you don't have access to one, making a playlist on Spotify is always an easy alternative that can show just as much love.