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Giving back to others is one of the best things you can do as a human being, and there’s no better time to give back to others than during the holiday season. Spreading joy isn’t just great for others; it also gives you a sense of self-gratification as well. If you’re interested, take note of these ways to give back during the holidays.

Donate Clothes

Winter can be the most difficult time for people who are less fortunate due to the frigid conditions. Gift-giving also tends to introduce more clothing to your wardrobe, so holiday season is an excellent time to go through your old clothes and donate them. You may find some pieces of old clothing that would help someone else stay warm and safe this winter.

Buy Toys for Others

In addition to the proper winter wear, many children don’t get any toys during the holidays. Change that by going to a local store, buying some toys, and giving them away to children in need. Every child deserves to have fun, especially during the holidays.

Bake Delicious Food

Donating food year-round is great, but it can be especially helpful for needy families during the holiday season. Plus, nothing is better than baking during the holidays. Make some extra batches of cookies and give them away at food shelters. You could donate groceries as well.

Go Caroling

Music and the holidays are synonymous. By going caroling, you can instantly set a positive mood in your community. The holidays can be a very stressful time of the year, but caroling is a great way to reduce it for yourself and others.

Volunteer

A final way to give back during the holidays is to volunteer through an organization. You can volunteer by helping other families decorate a Christmas tree, wrapping their presents, giving them food, and so much more. Finding a place to volunteer during the holidays shouldn’t be difficult—make this the most wonderful time of the year for other families.

As the state of our environment continues to deteriorate, it’s crucial for everyone to seek more sustainable lifestyles. Fortunately, you can reduce your negative environmental impact in several ways, many of which require little effort. If you’re looking for a way to help protect and preserve the planet, consider these tips for living a more sustainable life.

Wear clothing made from sustainable materials

Manufacturing many of the most popular clothing materials—including cotton, polyester, and nylon—requires huge quantities of water or oil. To reduce the production of such harmful materials, consider purchasing environmentally friendly fabrics such as hemp, organic cotton, and organic linen instead. These materials offer a host of benefits—hemp clothing, for instance, is not only eco-friendly, but also durable, exceptionally comfortable, and naturally antimicrobial.

Reduce your dependency on single-use items

Single-use items such as disposable water bottles, paper plates, and plastic bags sit idly in landfills across the country, contributing to pollution as a result. Many single-use items also require a harmful amount of energy to mass-produce. By simply switching to reusable alternatives, you can help reduce the negative environmental impact of these temporary items.

Burn less fuel

Driving a car burns a large amount of fossil fuels, which release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As such, it’s important to find ways to cut back on the amount of gas you use. If riding your bike or walking isn’t an option, consider carpooling, taking public transit, or utilizing a ride-sharing system.

Eat fewer animal products

Vegan or vegetarian diets aren’t just for animal-lovers—they can also have numerous environmental benefits. The meat and dairy industries are responsible for massive water use, pollution, and habitat destruction. When you reduce the amount of animal products you consume, you consequently reduce these negative environmental impacts.

Grow your own food

Most of the produce you find in your local grocery store likely traveled thousands of miles to its destination. This lengthy journey burns a lot of fuel and releases harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere. To reduce the demand for such wasteful practices—and to enjoy the flavors of fresher food—consider growing your own produce. You don’t need a huge garden to grow your own food; simply set aside some space on your windowsill or porch. Bloomin’ has a variety of vegetable and herb seed paper options to get you started.

While most people would be happy with basic holiday present ideas, such as clothing or video games, any hobbyist knows the holidays are the best time for getting something for their passion project. If you want to impress the hobbyist in your life, consider these outside the box holiday gift ideas.

Kitchen Accessories

Give a heartwarming gift to any cook or baker in your life with new kitchen accessories. It doesn’t matter if you purchase something new or something based on what they already have—your generosity speaks for itself. If you want to splurge on a big giveaway, go for a new stand mixer or high-powered blender. While these might be more expensive, they will be greatly appreciated. Another option is to give an upgraded version of a typical kitchen tool. Go for higher-quality measuring spoons or utensils, since these are commonly used and will last a long time.

Natural Soaps and Bathroom Products

Natural health products are great for those shying away from common chemical-based toiletries. Natural deodorants, soaps, shampoos and conditioners, and face washes all make for a great bathroom kit. This will show your loved ones you support their new lifestyle.

Arts and Crafts Kits

These are staples for DIYers or anyone who likes handiwork. Knitting, sewing, and model-building are all great crafts for hobbyists. These keep people busy and engaged with creating something they can use. You can also gift artists paint sets, sketch pads, new pencils and pens, coloring supplies, or a graphic design tablet. Whichever you choose, your artsy loved one will be delighted.

Wooden Signs

Yes, you read that right: wooden signs. For anyone looking to add some flair to their outdoor garden or flower bed, consider a wooden sign. These make great holiday gift ideas and they come in different styles and sizes. A wooden sign will highlight your loved one’s passion for everyone to see.

Gardening Tools

This is an ideal gift for anyone who has a penchant for planting. Whether it’s for an indoor herb garden or outdoor flower bed, gardening tools are the perfect presents. You can also help a new gardener earn their green thumb and gift them their beginning gardener kit. In this, you can include a gardening book, seeds, plants, tools, gloves, a watering pot, and weeding tools. These ideas are great for helping any experienced or new gardening enthusiast.

If one of your resolutions for the new year is to live an eco-friendlier life, just look here for some ideas. You can take a myriad of actionable steps to help save the planet from the ever-changing climate, and we’ve listed a few of them below. From supporting climate organizations to donating old clothes rather than tossing them, there are plenty of ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Donate Your Clothes

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, then you need to think about the harmful effects of fast fashion. With shopping holidays such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, you need to think about what you’ll do with the clothes you hardly wear. Rather than tossing them in the trash, lend them as hand-me-downs or donate them to charities such as Purple Heart. Textile waste is a huge problem, so do your part to counteract that by donating pieces you no longer wear.

Walk and Bike More

For years, people have talked about how harmful vehicles are to the environment. This new year, do your part to cut down on those negative effects by walking and biking more. The more often you decide to use your own feet instead of a car, the more you work to eliminate those hazardous gases. If you can’t walk or bike, at least try to carpool or use public transit instead.

Embrace a Minimalist Lifestyle

Minimalism is a great way to incorporate your goal of reducing your carbon footprint into your lifestyle. Decluttering your home and living off less won’t just create a more organized home—it will also help your community and the environment.

Stop Eating (or Eat Less) Meat

You may not buy into this if you’re a hard-core bacon-lover, but if you really want to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment, then going on a plant-based diet is a necessity. In fact, eliminating meat consumption is one of the most effective ways to combat climate change—even over walking and biking. Red meat production consumes 11 times more water and causes five times more emissions than the poultry industry—and even poultry isn’t great for the environment. Even if becoming a vegetarian truly isn’t in the cards for you, try adding a few meatless days into your diet instead.

Plant a Garden

Finally, try planting a garden. Even if you live in an apartment, planting some greenery around the house is a simple way to reduce your carbon footprint. Pot some flowers, plant some trees in the backyard, start an herb or vegetable garden—the choice is yours. There are plenty of fun ways to start a garden, and doing so is even easier when you use Bloomin’s seed paper to start off.