Make tea and make friends

The British are creatures of habit, if the way they typically spend their time each week is anything to go by.

The nation spends hours watching TV, shopping, gambling, dating and surfing the net, according to the Great British Time Survey, commissioned by Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and conducted by ICM.

Younger people's free time revolves around socialising and the computer. Dates take up at least two hours a week for 42% of 18-24 year olds, while more than half surf the net for at least an hour a day, and a quarter play computer games for at least one hour a week.

WHAT WE DO 87% of women shop for more than one hour a week 49% of men spend at least two hours a week doing DIY 69% of men spend at least one hour a day reading a paper 55% of people spend two hours a week gardening

For the over-65s, tea breaks take up more than an hour a week for 79% of them, while 11% gamble for more than an hour a week.

But what few find time for is volunteering, according to the CSV. People often think they have nothing to offer, when actually they spend a lot of time doing activities that could help others. Its annual Make A Difference Day on 29 October aims to get people involved.

We asked celebrity life coach Gladeana McMahon to give her top tips for helping others, without changing what you do.

Tea drinkers could organise community tea parties. If you settle down every afternoon for a cup of tea and a scone, why not make it a social event and invite round the neighbours. If you're making one cup then making another three or four isn't any more hassle.

I'm always happy when a task that I do has more than one purpose. Something as simple as making tea can have lots of benefits apart from just quenching your thirst.

It is all about looking at what you do and working out how it can help. A tea party will strengthen community relations, as well as make you some new friends.

Shopaholics could help a disabled person with their retail needs. In my experience nothing feels better than knowing you have made a difference - it's a feeling money can't buy.

Shop for others

If you love shopping then use your passion to benefit others. If you spend a lot of time in the shops you will know where the best ones are, what they stock and where to get a bargain.

For someone who can't get out the house or finds shopping hard, your knowledge and experience will be a real benefit. Not only will you be getting them what they need, but at the best possible price.

Those who enjoy a flutter could help children with mathematical skills. Gambling is all about the law of probability and that is taught in schools.

Often the reason children struggle with maths is because they find the subject boring, but if you make it more exciting then you get their attention.

It is about transferring your skills. If you can work out the odds of a horse race, then you have good numerical ability. Why not use it to help others?

TV addicts could use tips they learn from makeover shows to renovate a community centre. The TV is often considered something people use to switch off after a busy day, but we learn a lot from programmes.

Pick up skills from the box

We absorb information and get ideas all the time. What we see can also be inspiring. If we see people achieve something on the TV, it might spur us on to do the same. Using the knowledge we acquire to help others also help us turn what is a sedentary pastime into an activity.

Getting involved in activities is also a way to meet new people and perhaps even meet Mr or Miss Right. And in addition to finding love, the community gets a facelift.