Transitions are rough. Some more than others, but all transitions can arouse stress and anxiety, loneliness and even sadness. Perhaps one of the most difficult transitions is the transition into college. A study in Social and Personality Compass suggests a great way to smooth out the transition into college. Although the study specifically dealt with the transition to college, I believe it reveals important information that we can apply to many of our individual and family transitions. Specifically, this study followed 193 students during the first weeks of their transition into college. Participants completed surveys assessing happiness, flourishing, thriving, resilience, optimism, anxiety, and loneliness (all aspects of well-being) for 6 weeks. The surveys also asked if they had engaged in prosocial actions, providing a checklist of 47 kind and helpful behaviors such as:

• Sharing notes with a classmate
• Putting out or returning a neighbor’s trash
• Running an errand for a friend
• Making conversation with a cashier
• Buying someone a gift for no reason
• Letting someone go ahead of you in line
• Bake treats and share them with a friend
• Volunteer

Over the time of the study, the researchers found that students experienced greater well-being during the weeks in which they engaged in more prosocial activities than their personal average. In other words, simple acts of kindness enhanced the student’s well-being during a stressful life-transition. That’s great news for anyone getting ready to transition to college…or anyone who has a child transitioning to college. Engaging in prosocial behaviors, kind and helpful actions, will help ease the transition to college. Moreover, I believe engaging in prosocial behaviors will prove beneficial to anyone going through any type of transition. Acts of kindness enhance our well-being…and that helps to make transitions go more smoothly. So, if you’re feeling down or disconnected, start engaging in kindness. Engage in kindness toward your family members, neighbors, and friends. Engage in simple acts of kindness toward cashiers, mail deliverers, a stranger on the street…anyone really. You’ll find yourself growing happier, less anxious, and less lonely. As you model and encourage these prosocial behaviors, your family will likely follow your example. As they engage in kindness, they will grow happier, less anxious, and less lonely as well. It’s simple. It’s effective. I think I’ll get started now.