Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season
Slide Nr 1
We tend to get wrapped up in the idea of gift giving during the holidays, but there are many more mindful ways to reach out to your loved ones than the usual presents. This month, try doing one kind and thoughtful thing each day – not only will it uplift those around you, but you’ll also benefit from the warm fuzzies you get from doing good for others. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 2
Think Big – No matter which religious tradition you’re celebrating, and even if you’re keeping festivities secular, the reason for the season is love for your fellow human. Think beyond your immediate family and circle of friends and spread the love as far as you can. After all, love is one of the few things that grows when you share it.
1/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 3
Do Your Best – What you can do for others depends on your abilities. Give that of which you have plenty, but which others may be lacking.
2/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 4
Lend A Hand – If you’re big and strong, you can shovel an elderly neighbour’s drive, chop their firewood or carry their groceries.
3/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 5
Share Your Wealth – If money is not an issue, give to a local charity that does good work at this time of year, or make a contribution to an international NGO tackling a major issue you care about.
4/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 6
Share Your Time – If you have plenty of time on your hands, help out those who are stressed out, for example by babysitting for a single mother while she does the Christmas shopping.
5/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 7
Be Curious – Look beyond your own religious and cultural communities, and respect or engage with the traditions cherished by others at this time of year.
6/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 8
Interfaith Support – Not all religious holidays at this time of year coincide with bank holidays. Help out a colleague celebrating Hanukkah by covering for them, so they can leave work early. Likewise, take the pressure off those rushing to get away for Christmas Eve, if all you’re planning once you knock off work is a Chinese takeaway.
7/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 9
Give A Tip – If you’re dining out, having your hair done or your car serviced before the holidays (and receive good service), give an extra-generous tip. Hospitality workers, in particular, put in long hours at this time of year so others can celebrate. Let them know it’s appreciated.
8/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 10
Tip Some More – Is there a delivery person, doorman, local shopkeeper or anyone else who provides good service regularly, whom you don’t usually tip? Prepare a small gift or an envelope with a card and some money thanking them for their services throughout the year.
9/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 11
Commiserate And Commemorate – Did you write to a friend who lost a loved one during the year? The first family holiday celebrated without a beloved family member can be hard, so write again to share the grief and perhaps some happy memories.
10/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 12
Say Thank You – Have you been on the receiving end of a kind or generous act? This is the perfect time to reach out to that person and let them know how much you appreciated their help or support.
11/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 13
Read And Write – On the flip side, make sure you (and your family) truly appreciate the letters and cards received at Christmas. Read them together…
12/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 14
Writing On The Wall – …then put them on prominent display for all to enjoy.
13/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 15
Write Back – Needless to say, it’s more than just common courtesy to respond to correspondence. It gives you a chance to reflect on the year gone past and to show appreciation for those who were a part of it.
14/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 16
Visit Family – Some kind words and seasonal wishes on paper are great, but remember those who may appreciate a more personal exchange. Visit elderly relatives and those without a family of their own.
15/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 17
Visit A Stranger – If there’s no one in your immediate family who might be alone during the holidays, call in to a lonely neighbour or find out if there’s a local retirement home that encourages social visits at this time of year.
16/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 18
Donate – December isn’t traditionally a time of year for clearing out your closets, even if you know you’ll be filling them with new things once the presents are unwrapped. Why not make some space by sorting through unwanted clothes and donating them? If you live in the northern hemisphere, they will be a welcome addition to the winter wardrobe of those feeling the cold of the season.
17/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 19
Provide Nourishment – While you’re at it, clear out your kitchen cupboard and donate non-perishables that you won’t be using to the local food bank. They feed a lot of people at this time of the year.
18/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 20
Pay It Forward – Throughout the season, whenever you’re getting a takeaway coffee, pay for a second one that the barista can give to the next customer, or a person in need.
19/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 21
Give Time – The holiday season is all about giving. First of all, there are the actual gifts we buy for the kids and exchange with loved ones. More importantly, there’s the gift of time. Most of us receive time off work, which we in turn devote to friends and family. Place the focus on this valuable yet intangible commodity above material things.
20/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 22
Family Bake – Nothing says “wholesome holiday fun for the whole family” like baking. Not only do you get to create delicious treats, catering to all dietary requirements as needed, you also fill the house with that delicious seasonal smell.
21/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 23
DIY Gifts – The resulting cookies make a great gift, not only for friends and family, but also for neighbours (you might even get a batch of their home baking in return). Check out more fun DIY gift ideas here.
22/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 24
Make, Don’t Buy – Turn onerous chores into shared experiences, simply by doing them together. Instead of one person slaving over a hot stove all day or buying expensive pre-prepared meal ingredients, share the prep work and enjoy each others’ company in the kitchen.
23/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 25
Give Time – When it come to our own families, we should value presence over presents. Prioritise experiences shared over gifts exchanged by taking the kids for a special outing or creating a family tradition all your own instead of just buying toys.
24/25
Living
Show Them You Care: 25 Ways To Spread Love This Holiday Season.
Slide Nr 26
Make A Date – Vouchers can be a lazy way to avoid buying presents, but a well thought-out gift of time to be spent together in the near future is more precious than anything bought in a store. Just make sure it’s a personal, specific plan and schedule it immediately, so it doesn’t turn into an unredeemed “voucher”. Then you can continue sharing the love, well into the new year.
Whether you’re a craft-making machine or a newbie looking to give more meaningful presents this year, these DIY holiday gifts are your one-stop idea shop
Skiing, snowshoeing, sledding – boring. If snow kayaking and barrelling downhill on a shovel sound more your speed, this is your bucket list of activities to try this winter
Forget cheap knick-knacks – these regional beauty products, from creams to soaps and healing balms, will remind you of your trip every time you need a bit of self-care
Padel may be trending, but how about sepak takraw or korfball? Round up the crew to try these lesser-known sports that are enjoyable, entertaining and just as exciting
Guilty pleasure or no, every dating show fan has wondered how they'd fare on the front lines. Take this quiz, and we'll tell you which popular show would be perfect for you
There’s nothing like a DIY diversion to help you relax, focus and gain a sense of accomplishment. But what kind of project should you take on? We'll help you choose
From nail-biting thrillers to steamy romance and twisted short fiction, these books were made for devouring on a plane, in a beach chair or wherever your summer takes you
Sea turtles are a widely beloved animal, but they are also under threat. Conservationist Brad Nahill of SEE Turtles tells us why that matters – and what you can do to help
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.