Volunteering during the holidays is a special gesture that many people have begun to make in recent years. It’s a way to give to the less fortunate or how to show your selfless side and spread commonality and community.
10 Reasons Why Volunteering this Holiday Season is Good for You!
Here is why you should give up your time this holiday season and give back to something you care about!
1. Tis the Season of Giving
There are so many charitable organizations in the world that need support. In our daily lives it is often difficult to spend a lot of time on what we believe in due to lack of time. Volunteers are important to many charities that have little money and need help. And what better time to give some of that time than during the season of giving!
2. It Can Lead to a New Career
In a study done by the Corporation for National and Community Service, they found volunteers are 27% more likely to find a job than non-volunteers. How can volunteering help you find a job? It highlights a number of “giving” qualities that are very attractive to business leaders, such as commitment and outwardly perspective.
Volunteer experience looks good on a resume and is able to fill in unwanted gaps. Of course, if you are looking for a volunteer experience in an industry that interests you, it can only help. But only community involvement shows that you want to make better use of your free time rather than working through the Netflix queue, which shows your value to the company.
3. It Will Boost Your Confidence
Seeing the results of your positive impact can be amazing. For example, volunteering can strengthen your sense of pride and identity. In a different survey conducted by UnitedHealthcare, 96% of people said volunteering gave them a purpose in life. This trust and belief can only help you in your ascent of the career ladder.
4. Volunteering is Fulfilling
Not only for you, but for the dreams of others. Many people don’t consider the impact volunteering has on themselves; the confidence it builds, the friendships it connects, and the sense of teamwork you gain are only a few of the reasons volunteering is one of the most helpful self-improvement tools you can use.
However, it not only helps you but, of course, has a profound impact on the dreams of others. Your time and giving spirit can truly go full-circle if you allow it. That’s why giving back is so important!
5. You’ll Develop New Skills
As can be seen from this chart, 87% of those who said volunteering supported their career said it improved their interpersonal and teamwork skills, and 75% said it improved their time management skills. Are there any professional skills that you know you must strengthen in order to reach the next level of your career? Perhaps you want to gain experience in project management or team leadership. Maybe you are looking for volunteering opportunities that will help you develop in the areas where you want to grow.
6. It Can Relieve Your Stress
A recent study supported by UnitedHealthcare found that 76 percent of volunteers last year felt healthier thanks to volunteer work, while 78 percent reported less stress. Not surprisingly, high stress levels are associated with less creativity, less decision-making and less performance, not to mention the emotional negativity that can affect your work and experience of frustrating colleagues.
7. It’s the Best Way to Spread Cheer
If you’ve never been alone during the holidays, trust us, it’s something you never want. Some people, though, don’t have a choice. One of the best ways to spread holiday cheer is through volunteering and giving back a sense of community to those in need.
The holiday season is one of the jolliest times to give back.
8. You’ll Gain a New Perspective
As a volunteer with CreativeVolunteer, you will never experience two days which are the same. Routine is not something that happens in our programs. Every day you take part in different events and meet new people. Daily activities are based on the needs of the charity.
9. You Will Make New Connections
Volunteering is a great way to expand your network and connect with people with similar interests. As this often means diversification beyond their specialization, these people probably have different backgrounds and now have the contacts and resources to get to know one of these areas. Since 80% of jobs are not advertised and 70% are online, these links can be very effective if you want to move forward in your career or change your career.
10. It Will Make a Difference
No matter what, we believe an act of kindness and your dedicated time can make an impact. You may not be able to see your direct impact or even feel like you’ve made a difference in such large issues we face as a society, but your work goes a long way in overcoming and don’t let your good spirit wane.
If you volunteered, you did and will make a difference. It’s as simple as that.
Motivating Yourself to Volunteer this Holiday Season
So, what do you say? This holiday season, let’s make a difference in the lives of others and in the existence of our world. Try something new this season and volunteer your time to a cause that motivates you.
If you are interested in volunteering with CreativeVolunteer or any of our partner programs, please don’t hesitate to reach us at contact@volunteer-opportunities.org.
If you are a part of an organization who could use some help with your organizational storytelling, feel free to sign up for our newsletter or, better yet, take on one of our volunteers by becoming a partner. Email us at partner@volunteer-opportunities.org.