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The food, the celebrations, the traditions: The season of Thanksgiving has arrived! <\/p>\n
Amid the hustle and bustle of prepping for guests, travel plans, and winding down professional obligations, it may seem like your time is at an all-time premium. Just the thought of adding to your already lengthy to-do list might stir up some overwhelming feelings.<\/p>\n
But making room to start (or continue) to donate your time this month could not only align perfectly with the spirit of gratitude and giving back, but also gift you with the multiple professional and personal benefits of volunteering. <\/p>\n
Volunteering offers a unique path to finding a sense of joy and purpose, significantly boosts mental and physical health, and provides surprising opportunities to refine soft skills and accelerate professional development, making it a powerful way to bring fulfillment into your life.<\/p>\n
As you reflect on all you have to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season, consider how giving back can amplify that sense of fulfillment. The act of volunteering goes beyond simply helping others; it is a powerful practice that profoundly benefits you, the giver.<\/p>\n
In her book Every Gift Matters<\/em><\/a>,<\/em>, Carrie Morgridge emphasizes a fundamental truth that resonates deeply with the spirit of the holidays: every person and every gift can make a difference. This principle is especially relevant during a time focused on generosity. Whoever you are, no matter how much or how little time, resources, or talent you have, your gift matters.<\/p>\n The smallest donation of time\u2014whether serving a holiday meal at a soup kitchen or helping a local charity with their seasonal drive\u2014can transform a life in need. The best news is that giving and volunteering create a dual transformation, benefiting two lives: the one who receives and the one who gives. This reciprocal benefit is key to how volunteering brings fulfillment and supports professional growth.<\/p>\n So, as you seek a meaningful way to spend your time this Thanksgiving, remember that whether you are volunteering your time or donating small or large amounts, here are several benefits that giving brings directly to you, the giver:<\/p>\n Ever heard people describe feeling warm and fuzzy when helping someone? Turns out that\u2019s not just a turn of phrase. Studies have shown that<\/a> that warm, fuzzy feeling is real\u2014and that giving your time to others could lead to positive impacts on your health.<\/p>\n So during a time of year when stress levels can run rampant over securing that perfect gift or cramming a month\u2019s worth of work into three weeks, consider the salve of volunteering. The boost to your mental and physical strength will help you tackle\u2014and enjoy\u2014the month ahead.<\/p>\n The science behind the benefits of volunteering:<\/p>\n While volunteering at a United Way Toys for Tots drive, Morgridge got to meet the families in need, listen to their stories, hear about their kids and then send them home with a car full of toys and food. <\/p>\n \u201cI was not the major donor of the event, nor was I an event coordinator\u2014I merely showed up for my scheduled shift and was immediately blown away by the impact that the event had on me,\u201d she says. \u201cI understood why the same volunteers had been showing up year after year to help over 3,000 families.\u2026 The only regret I had about sharing my day with these families was that I hadn\u2019t found the organization earlier in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n Find a cause that brings you joy, and then invite your friends. They are looking for the same thing you are\u2014fulfillment in giving\u2014and most people just need to be asked. If you are being asked to join a friend, make today a yes<\/em> day. Your life might never be the same.<\/p>\n Think of volunteering as a way to test and refine your current skills\u2014and maybe even develop new ones.\u00a0<\/p>\n Perhaps you\u2019re just beginning your marketing career and a local hospital board is in need of a strategic plan to introduce their signature event to a new demographic. Gaining similar leadership experience might take years at your 9\u20135, but thanks to volunteering, you could be readying yourself for more stretch opportunities much sooner.\u00a0<\/p>\n Maybe a role in sales has always piqued your interest and your child\u2019s school needs a fundraiser. Taking the lead offers a great, low-pressure way to determine whether securing corporate donors is something you\u2019d be successful with or would want to eventually turn into a full-time position.<\/p>\n Not only will volunteering give you an improved perspective on life, but it will also help you develop more soft skills that can help your career.<\/p>\n1. Wellness Through Giving: The Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Volunteering<\/h3>\n
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2. Cultivate Joy and Purpose: The Emotional Rewards of Giving Back<\/h3>\n
3. Accelerate Your Career Path: How Volunteering Refines Professional Goals<\/h3>\n
4. Build Core Competencies: Volunteering is a Masterclass in Soft Skills Development<\/h3>\n