5 Ways People Around The World Are Making Strangers Smile During Isolation – And How You Can Do Too

During the coronavirus mandatory isolation requirements, levels of depression, anxiety, stress, unusual sleep patterns, and even high blood pressure have all been found to increase among everyday citizens.

Keeping yourself busy seems to be the easiest way to get rid of stress and unhappy thoughts. So why not try your best to make someone else happy – while still obeying social distancing laws?

These uncertain times are taking a toll on everyone, especially health care and law enforcement workers. Not only can the following ideas help strangers in social isolation, it can also relieve a bit of the stress on health care workers by putting a smile on their face – without leaving your property, coming within 1.5m of anyone, or costing you anything.

Ordinary citizens are taking initiatives and so the trend of spreading positive energy during these trying times is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. So let’s all add to it, to do our part in making the world a better place.

Chalk Art

Whip out some chalk and write a positive message on your driveway or the sidewalk so that strangers can see it, like this artist from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, reported on the ABC news Australia.

You can make your own sidewalk chalk too using this simple recipe.

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2. Painted rocks

Find some rocks in your garden and paint designs or short messages on them and leave them around the neighbourhood, like these kids in Santa Clarita, California, United States, reported in the LA Times.

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3. Door Frame Decoration

Cut out paper letters to make a positive message to stick on your door, like this family in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, reported in the CTV news.

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4. Window Messages

Write or draw something positive on a large sheet of paper and stick in your window, like these kids in Brooklyn, New York, United States, reported on the ABC News.

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5. Lawn Posters

Grab some poster board and craft up a note of appreciation to health care workers to put in your lawn, like this family in Nolensville, Tennessee, United States, reported in the ABC news.

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Do you have a way to show some positivity around the neighbourhood that wasn’t in this article? Share it with us in the comments!

Check out this tutorial for making fluffy sidewalk chalk paint

You know that thrill when you find an old, rusty piece of junk and immediately see its potential? That’s exactly the vibe I got reading the tutorial from A Pretty Happy Home on turning a vintage milk can into a side table. It’s one of those simple yet satisfying projects that blends upcycled charm with real functionality—and adds a whole lot of character to your space.

First off, there’s just something magical about milk cans. They’ve got history. You just know they’ve lived on a dusty farm porch or sat beside a barn door through decades of seasons. In this project, that history gets to shine—literally—after a little elbow grease and creative thinking.

What I loved about this makeover is how unfussy it is. The milk can wasn’t scrubbed within an inch of its life or made to look overly polished. Instead, it got a respectful refresh: a little cleaning, a bit of clear coat to protect the patina, and a sturdy, round wood top to complete the transformation into a DIY farmhouse side table.

The wood top itself was made from leftover pieces—hello, recycled wood projects—which gives this whole DIY an extra eco-friendly touch. It’s a small win for the environment and a big win for anyone who appreciates budget-friendly home decor that doesn’t look cheap.

You don’t need fancy tools or a woodworking shop to pull this off. That’s the beauty of these repurposed furniture ideas—they’re accessible. And they let the vintage pieces speak for themselves. This one, in particular, looks just as good next to a cozy armchair as it would on a porch with a cup of tea and a warm breeze.

The final result? A rustic milk can side table that’s equal parts practical and nostalgic. It’s got that collected-over-time feel that you just can’t buy from a big box store. And as someone who loves giving old things new life, it absolutely inspired me to go digging through the nearest antique store (or maybe my parents’ shed) to see what I can rescue next.

If you’re looking for easy upcycled decor projects, or a way to add authentic farmhouse style without breaking the bank, this tutorial is a perfect weekend project. Honestly, this is the kind of piece that guests will ask about, and you’ll get to say, “Oh, that old thing? I made it.”

And you will say it with pride.

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