Malcolm Gladwell famously said that it only takes 10,000 hours to master a skill.
While that’s been disputed many, many times by many, many people – the fact remains: What you do the most of, you excel at. So what have you been up to?
This recent study says that Americans spend more than two hours of every day on their phones checking out social media, which is super fun, I get it. But...what if you didn’t just scroll through your Instagram feed? What if you applied those hours toward a goal or used your time to help others?
Love to snap pics of your food?
While we’re still a ways away from being able to identify exactly what’s on our plate with a snap a la the Silicon Valley hot dog-identifying technology, we still have lots of access to inspirational recipes. BigOven has a million beautiful pictures of exactly what you want to eat tonight, as well as the easiest step-by-step instructions you’ll find anywhere. There’s even a “use up your leftovers” feature that will help you eliminate food waste. Need to pick something up? Use Locavore to find what’s in season and at a nearby farmer’s market.
Like to drop knowledge in the comments section?
What if instead of bickering with people on their status update, you could tutor a child and teach them to read. There are many organizations that offer free one-on-one tutoring online, and you can offer your expertise in a variety of subjects. Lessons last as little as 15 minutes and can be done from anywhere. More fun than ranting on IG Live? Maybe. More important? Definitely.
Into shopping online?
Can’t blame you there, it’s the most fun. Especially when you just know you’re getting a deal. No matter the purchase, there could be environmental or ethical implications at hand – luckily there’s an easy way to check. Using the Good Guide (in store or online) lets you take a peek at how “green” a product really is and will tell you if you’re getting the best price.
Like playing games?
Of course, but what if you could do good and have fun at the same time. Next time you’re waiting in line or just killing time before bed, test your trivia skills at FreeRice. For each correct answer, you donate 10 grains of rice to a person in need. Too good to be true? It isn’t! Over the past decade, they’ve donated nearly 100 billion (with a b!) grains of rice.
Burnt out on screentime?
Try some good old fashioned human interaction. DEED follows through on its slogan to “do something good today,” by making volunteering easy, fun, and social, allowing you to explore local, high-impact opportunities to give back to your community. Get out there and help some puppies be adopted or pick up some trash along the beach. Good for your soul and good for the world around you.
