It’s that time of year again! The parties are over, the Christmas decorations are looking tired, and your clothes are a little too tight after all those chocolates and turkey sandwiches. Time to make a New Year’s Resolution. But how about actually sticking to it this time? Studies show that 80% of our self-directed resolutions fail. Giving up chocolate, eating healthier, losing weight, exercising more…by February most of us are back to our old habits. Make 2023 the year to try a selfless resolution instead. You may indirectly achieve your personal goals, whilst help others along the way. Generosity and giving selflessly have been shown to improve mental state, boost physical wellbeing, raise happiness levels and extend your life…so what are you waiting for? Here are our 9 ideas for philanthropic resolution success.
1. Get Physical
Set yourself a physical challenge. It’s often easier to meet fitness goals if you have a specific event or fitness challenge to strive towards. There are many organised charitable events across the country throughout the year, so whether it’s a 100 mile bike ride, a 5k run or an open water swim, sign up, start training and get yourself sponsored. There’s no better incentive than having all your family and friends onboard to encourage you and cheer you on. Keep your eye out for an announcement about the 2023 March 4 CENS event!!
2. Have Fun With Fundraising
It’s never been simpler to set up your own fundraiser, with multiple donation platforms and social media to help you shout about it. Choose your charity, set yourself a financial target and plan a selection of fundraisers throughout the year to reach your goal. Fundraising is often more fun with friends or maybe you can encourage your work colleagues to get involved as a team. You’ll be amazed at how rewarding it can be, how many interesting people you can meet and how many friends you can make along the way. See our fundraising tips here.
3. Give It Up
OK, so we’ve all done it! Attempted to give something up….chocolate, cigarettes, sugar, TV. How much easier would it be if you asked your friends to sponsor you, and how much more satisfying when you hand over that hard-earned money to charity?
4. Get Out!
One thing we could all benefit from is getting outdoors more often. The physical and mental benefits speak for themselves. Being in the fresh air, getting all that Vitamin D, hearing the birdsong and feeling the wind in your hair. 10,000 steps a day is considered a healthy amount of movement, so give it a go and make it part of your fundraising challenge.
5. Be A Volunteering Hero
Volunteering not only benefits the charity you are helping, but it can also be hugely personally rewarding. It feels good to help others and you will meet interesting people, learn new skills and challenge yourself. There are no downsides, so why not try it out in 2023? See our Volunteering Guide
6. Make It Monthly
If you find yourself donating regularly to various causes, then it might be a good idea to pick a charity and sign up to monthly donations. A regular income really helps charities with forward planning and project development. Plus, as a monthly donor you can get more involved with the charity and really see how your money is making a difference. You can sign up to monthly donations at CENS here.
7. Show Off Your Skills
If you have a particular skill or interest, which could benefit a charity, then you can donate this in lieu of a financial donation. Here at CENS we have had many volunteers coming through our doors, donating skills such as cooking, gardening, financial planning, crafting and reflexology. If you have something you’d like offer, then just get in touch and have a chat.
8. Become A Corporate Partner
Increasingly, businesses are looking to support a charity of the year to help meet their social responsibility goals. Philanthropy is the buzz word of 2023, and the advantages to business are huge. Attracting new staff, making a difference to your community, team building, positive PR and marketing opportunities and personal growth to name just a few. If you are interested in making CENS your charity of the year, then you can get in touch here.
9. Make Kindness The Norm
Just doing one selfless thing every day can make a huge difference, and has the ability to improve your mood and boost your energy too. Stopping to say hello to a homeless person, smiling at someone who is in need, dropping off some unwanted items to a charity shop… whatever you choose to do, make kindness the norm in 2023.
