The holidays are one of the busiest seasons of the year. People are busy catching up on the Christmas rush, decorating homes, or catching up with the family. Some even visit the dentist office to get their teeth ready to munch on sumptuous holiday feasts. Regardless of how you celebrate Christmas, it’s also important to recognize the less fortunate people who can’t enjoy the holidays as much as we do.
Volunteering is one of the best gifts you can give this holiday season. It offers many meaningful insights and opportunities as you engage with different people during your volunteer experience. With that in mind, here are some reasons why the holidays are a perfect opportunity to volunteer.
Plenty of Time to Volunteer
Many people are taking week-long breaks from work or school during the holidays. Some use the time for Christmas shopping or simply lounge by the fire while watching their favorite holiday movie. While the holidays are a perfect time to beat the Christmas rush and get your much-needed rest, you should also consider using the extra time to volunteer.
Throughout the year, we’re always busy catching up on our everyday responsibilities, which makes it hard to devote time to volunteer. In fact, plenty of volunteer opportunities emerge during the holidays where you can actively participate in them. Plus, it’s easier to give back to those in need during the holidays than regular seasons of the year since those involve a lot of duties that we get caught up in.
Once you enjoy the volunteering experience, you’ll even carve out more time to lend your services down the road.
It’s the Season of Giving
There are plenty of ways to keep the Christmas spirit alive aside from cooking, serving meals, and donating items. While most of us get busy and stressed about planning family dinners, some people don’t have a family to share the holidays with.
Hospitals, retirement homes, and community care homes welcome volunteers willing to spread the holiday cheer with their patients, veterans, and seniors. Some of these people have been spending holidays alone, so being with someone (even a stranger) can brighten their day.
You can also bring your pets and little nephews to spark more fun. You may also bring gifts and holiday dinner meals to those who don’t have access to them.
It Makes You Grateful
During the holidays, we often fill our homes with gifts, decorations, and delicious meals. But not everyone is as privileged as you. This makes a perfect reason to go out, volunteer, and be grateful.
The holidays reveal a lot of unique stories about how people celebrate this special time of the year. You get to see how people live through it, which can make you realize there’s a lot of things to be thankful for. Through volunteering, you learn to recognize the blessings you receive the entire year.
More importantly, helping people, especially those in need, puts a lot of things into perspective. It serves as an eye-opener to count our blessings and think about the things we’re grateful for. Gratefulness is one of the best values you will learn from volunteering regardless of the season.
A Lot of Benefits
Many are hesitant to volunteer because of the lack of financial compensation. Some don’t like the idea of rendering their time and service for free. The truth is, many volunteers have scored job opportunities because of being part-time volunteers. Volunteer experience helps applicants highlight their outward perspective and commitment, making it an attractive quality for employers.
Not only that, volunteer experience won’t only look good on your resume, but it can also fill skills gaps. Having volunteer experience in your target industry can help you build the skills and knowledge you need for your career.
Besides job opportunities, volunteering during holidays offers many health benefits, such as happiness, satisfaction, and an increase in mood. Those who are always in charge of hosting holiday dinners understand that Christmas preparations can be very stressful. For a change, why not invite the family to volunteer this year? Volunteering is an excellent pick-me-upper if you’re tired of facing holiday stress and pressure. It’s also a great way to improve your people skills, build new friendships, and connect with the community.
Final Thoughts
This coming holidays, why not make good use of your time by volunteering in your community? It’s a meaningful and powerful way to relive the holiday spirit and make less fortunate people feel loved and appreciated. Get involved with non-profit groups to stay updated about volunteer opportunities within your area during the holidays.
