Time is one of the most valuable things in our lives. And one of the greatest things we can do is give it to others. While it can be difficult to find the time to help others, doing so will not only give back to others but to yourself too. No matter how much time you have to give, there are always things you can do to help others. Use some of your free time to help someone else with these 10 easy ways you can give back to others.

1. Help out friends and family

If you’re looking for ways you can help others, why not start closer to home by helping out friends and family? Most people won’t admit when they’re struggling, but you never know when an offer of help could be welcome. From helping an older relative with their yard to doing the grocery run for a busy parent, you can do a lot of good by helping someone else out. Pick up the phone or pop over and see how you can help out someone you love.

2. Get involved with the local school

School’s are crying out for volunteers. From helping with coaching the school’s sports teams to chaperoning different events, you could provide several benefits to your community by helping out at a school. You don’t necessarily need to be the parent of a child at that particular school to help, and there are many different roles you can take on. Contact schools in your local area to find out how you can volunteer at a public school.

3. Spend time volunteering

Got some time to spare? Volunteering for a good cause could be a valuable use of your time. From helping out with local food banks and soup kitchens to helping youth organizations, there are charities and community initiatives that are crying out for some enthusiastic volunteers. There are many unexpected benefits of volunteering, and it can be a fantastic way to get to know some new people and learn new skills.

4. Share your skills

Do you have skills and talents that could help others? Perhaps you know a second language or can play a musical instrument? Whatever your talents are, you could do some great things for others by tutoring and guiding others. Are you skilled with technology? Why not help teach people to resolve common computer problems? Never underestimate how your skills could benefit someone else, you could help someone to improve their life.

5. Be a better neighbor

How well do you know your neighbors? Giving them a helping hand could be a better way to get to know them. Some of the ways you can help your neighbors include taking out the trash, carpooling, and even taking them a meal now and then (especially if they’re on their own). You could also invite the neighbors over so that you can learn more about them – you could even become great new friends.

6. Take part in a community project

If you’ve got time to spare and want to do something worthwhile for your community, then you could have some excellent opportunities by helping out with a community project. Community projects don’t just have to involve gardens or building things – there are a lot of things going on that could benefit from your skills. Local history projects are a great example, like those that help you stretch your research skills. Want to know how many WW2 veterans are still alive? These are the sort of amazing projects that can help you learn more about your community.

7. Raise money

Raising money for a good cause is a simple way to give back to your community or to a much wider cause. You could run a marathon, arrange a fundraiser at your local school or your workplace – there are plenty of great ways to raise money for others. Doing some kind of challenge can be rewarding in many ways, helping you help out those in need while also pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. What will you do to raise a bit of money?

8. Help out the animals

It’s not just people who need help, it’s our furry little friends too. Animal shelters and charities often need volunteers to help take care of sick or abandoned animals, which can be perfect if you’re an animal lover. Another way you can help is to take part in cleanups in your local area. From beach cleans to litter picking in your local park, keeping these areas clean and free from trash can help preserve the local environment and ensure the animals can enjoy the area as much as us.

9. Be greener

How much do you do to help the environment? It doesn’t take much to be a little greener each day. Using reusable coffee cups and water bottles can help save a lot of waste, while recycling all of your household trash could also make a big difference. There are also a lot of unexpected ways you can help the environment, including buying more local produce and reusing bags when you go shopping. These little changes can make a big difference, especially if you can encourage others to do the same.

10. Do something kind each day

It doesn’t take much to brighten someone’s day. Buying a sweet treat for a colleague or letting someone take your cab are just small gestures, but they can mean the world to someone else. Even just smiling at someone and asking how their day’s going can really boost someone’s mood, and it will boost your own too. With plenty of ways you can make someone’s day a little better, isn’t worth it for a few seconds of your time?

Even the smallest amount of time can make a big difference to others. However you decide to help it will be sure to brighten someone else’s day, and your own too.