Giving back is important. Even the seemingly smallest of efforts can make a difference. While it’s not always easy to find the time thanks to a busy work and family life, there are things you can do in your spare time to help others. Giving back can be rewarding and a productive use of your free time, so take a look at these great suggestions for things you can to do so some good.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Share your skills
If you have a particular set of skills (and not in the Liam Neeson/Taken way), then sharing them could have many benefits for others. There are some excellent ways you can share your professional expertise to help others, including being a mentor to someone or running workshops in your community. Sharing your knowledge through writing is another great way to use what you know to benefit others and can be a fantastic creative outlet to use your brain in a different way.
Run for a Charity
If you tend to use your spare time for fitness, why not do it for a charity? Training to run for a marathon to raise money for a good cause is a wonderful way to give back, while also helping you to focus on your own health. Choose a charity that is close to your heart and document your efforts to inspire others to do some good too. Even if you think you don’t have much free time to exercise, there are some clever ways to sneak in a work out to help you train for that good cause.
Become a Counselor
Mental health awareness is becoming an important subject that’s finally getting the attention it deserves. Many people struggle with mental illness and if you think you could do some good to help others with their problems – why not think about becoming a counselor? There are many great uses for mental health counseling programs that include helping people at your workplace, in schools or in the community to help them deal with problems they’re experiencing. If you’ve got a talent for listening and the desire to enhance your skills, maybe it’s time you gave it a try?
Volunteer
Volunteering is something you can do at any time – there’s no minimum required for dedicating some time to help others. There are many different ways you can volunteer your time to help others, including spending time with the elderly, working with children and animals or even helping with community projects. There are unexpected benefits to volunteering you might not have thought of that can bring a lot of joy to your life. As ways to spend your free time go, volunteering can be very rewarding and offer experiences you wouldn’t get by spending all of your free time doing nothing.
Finding ways to help others in your spare time will make you more grounded as a person as well as keep you busy. It’s a great way to set an example to your children and could even become a family activity you can all enjoy together. Think about how you spend your free time and see if you could use some of it to do some good for others.
12 comments
I absolutely love this. There’s not enough good in the world. People get so wrapped up in themselves and what they ‘re doing that they forget how much good they can do in the world. Thanks for sharing this!
Totally agree. There is nothing so fulfilling and heartwarming than to be able to share your time with those who need it. Me and my family do volunteer work whenever there is an opportunity – help in soup kitchens, church charity activities, even babysit for friends’ kids. It just feels good to do good!
We do volunteer work. My children are always first in line to volunteer. We donate regularly too. I am not that physically fit, so I will leave the “run for charity” to my sons. I always believe in the saying, “What goes around comes around” so share your blessings in any way you can!
Running for a charity would be a really good idea! I think there are definitely plenty of opportunities to help others with your skills and talents too.
How awesome are these ideas! I’ve been saying the same things on my blog. If there’s a chance to spread the good in the world, why not take it. We need it more now these days and these are all lovely suggestions on how to do it.
We volunteer regularly. I always get more out of it than I give, and I think the kids do too.
I love the Peanuts because they are a childhood staple. Thanks for hosting, this is awesome.
oops, I had two blogs open and replied on the wrong post. Sorry about that!!
I think it’s so important to do good when and where you can. I always try to volunteer with causes I support.
What a great post about paying it forward. This definitely sets a great example for our kids!
These are really great ideas! It’s always great to use your spare time to help others.
It is definitely an awesome thing to dedicate your spare time to others. Love these ideas you shared!