Now is the perfect time to revitalize your life and try things. If you found yourself without means or opportunity to truly help others, than resolve to do better! Check out these 4 trends and benefits for giving back and serving others:

1) A donation a month keeps you out of a funk: Whether it's $10, $20 or $50 a month, budgeting for giving is a great way to learn about cool causes in your community and connect to others when busy schedules don't allow for hands-on volunteering. Find a new charity, community group or nonprofit each month to whom you can make a donation – add variety so you're helping animals one month, the environment the next, and maybe a local women's shelter mid-year.

2) Digitize your giving life: You know you're online anyway, so why not turn your digital know-how into doing good? Coordinating a service project or scheduling volunteers? VolunteerSpot's free online sign up sheets with reminders make it easier for anyone to do something good while saving time and focusing on the important stuff. Try it out now.

3) Just make someone smile: A smile goes a long way and what better way to resolve to do good than to do what comes naturally? Viral videos like the NYC subway signs experiment show that even an everyday routine can be turned into a day-maker when a stranger does something special to make you smile. Pay more compliments, make more smiles, and spread the good.

4) Invite others: Live the mantra of people working together by finding ways to give back with your own family and friends. Not only do shared experiences bring groups of people closer together and strengthen relationships, but the collective show of support in helping others has a real impact on your community as a whole. Get mom and dad in on the fun or find opportunities to involve your children in giving back.

If you want to make your volunteer experience easier, VolunteerSpot can help by taking the hassle out of scheduling, signing up and reminding volunteers. No more paper signups or reply-all emails; quickly coordinate school parents & volunteers and rely on on-the-go mobile access and automated reminders to keep everyone on track. Get started now.