20 Things You Can Do Today to Make The World a Better Place

Rocko’s Modern Life knows what’s up. (Photo: Nickelodeon)

Wash Your Hands

This may seem like a dumb thing to put on a list like this. Or, at least, a pretty obvious one. But it’s really not. (Come on, y’all have worked in an office environment. You know the deal. People can be super gross.) It’s something we should doing already, and most of us probably are. But it’s also one of those things that, though we may not think about it, make the world around us a little bit better for everyone.

Frequent hand washing is important, and will help you stay healthy. And it’s important not just for you, but for everyone around you. It’s one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick and keep from spreading illness. Plus, it’s just way less gross than the alternative. But that’s not all. According to the Centers for Disease Control, washing your hands can actually help save lives. By not passing on your germs to other people – who may have compromised immune systems or some other sort of illness already – you’re helping to keep them from getting sicker.  (And you’re helping keep yourself

And for you Purell junkies out there – constantly relying on hand sanitizer is not enough. Yes, it can quickly reduce the number of germs on your hands in most situations. But they don’t necessarily eliminate all of them, either. (And while you’re at it – check the alcohol content on that hand sanitizer in your purse – if it’s not 60% or higher, you need to restock.)