Finding ways to give back to the community shouldn’t be an activity reserved only for the holiday season. There are plenty of opportunities to do good deeds all year round to create a brighter future for everyone, while living a more meaningful life.
It’s been proven that positive acts of kindness or helping others can lead to better health, increased serotonin (the feel-good chemical) and even a boost in energy. With perks like this, there’s really no reason not to engage in good deeds regularly.
After all, none of us really know why we’re on this speck of dust floating in space, but while we’re here we might as well help make each other’s experiences a little more pleasant.
5 Ways to Give Back
Here are five ways to give back and contribute to a brighter future for yourself and the planet:
1. Donate to a Cause You Care About Each Month
Everyone feels connected to at least one good cause for one reason or another. Whether it’s donating to cancer research, fighting climate change, or contributing to organizations seeking to end world hunger or avoidable blindness, find a cause you can get behind and make it your mission to donate each month. Even if you can only afford $5, you’ll feel good about contributing to an important cause that matters to you.
2. Volunteer Your Time
If financial donations aren’t possible for you, try paying it forward by donating your time to a good cause. Maybe you’d like to try helping out at a seniors’ home, pitching in at a food drive or volunteering at a local hospital. Whatever you do, remind yourself that donating your time and energy to a worthy cause is a good deed you can feel great about.
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3. Mentor a Young Person
Donating your time and energy doesn’t have to mean volunteering — you could also act as a mentor for someone who’s looking for help and guidance on their path. Do some research on organizations in your area that connect mentors with mentees, and let the relationship unfold organically from there. Chances are, you’ll feel a great deal of satisfaction from helping someone else out on a personal level. There are even free mentorship platforms available that connect you to mentees online.
4. Clean Up Your Local Area
With climate change looming over all of us, it’s more important than ever to be climate advocates and engage in activities that are good for the environment. See if you can find a local clean up group to help out whenever you have spare time, or head down to your nearest beach or park to perform this good deed solo.
5. Educate Yourself About World Issues
While it’s impossible to know every detail about every issue plaguing the world, taking time out of your day to learn about things like climate change, racism and poverty can help light the fire within you to take action against global injustices and suffering. Listen to podcasts, read books and do some research on reputable websites online to learn more about the challenges the world is facing today.
