By: Dakota Gillmore, PhD
If the warmer weather has you itching to get out of the house, consider that some activities you might choose to get involved in are more helpful and healthful than others. Volunteering, for example, is a free and rewarding way to extend a helping hand to those who need support. Fortunately, many of these activities are good for you! They provide opportunities to be physically active, have fun, and interact with friends, family, and others in your community.
Why volunteer?
Volunteering provides vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and your community. While it’s clear to see how others can benefit from your help, you might be surprised to learn how volunteering benefits your own health and well-being too.
While it’s true the more you volunteer, the more you benefit, volunteering doesn’t need to involve a long-term commitment. (In fact, volunteers who see their time as an extra chore or burden tend to have fewer positive benefits during their experiences.) So giving in even simple ways helps those in need—all while improving your own health and happiness.
While it’s true the more you volunteer, the more you benefit, volunteering doesn’t need to involve a long-term commitment. (In fact, volunteers who see their time as an extra chore or burden tend to have fewer positive benefits during their experiences.) So giving in even simple ways helps those in need—all while improving your own health and happiness.
The many benefits of volunteering
- Volunteering is just plain good for your health.
Volunteering can help you live a longer, healthier life. People who volunteer experience lower levels of depression, stress, physical pain, and emotional distress than the general population. This is especially true for adults ages 65 and older, although volunteers of all ages experience some level of improvement.
By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have found that helping others is inherently pleasurable, thus supporting the idea that people seem to be hardwired for helping others. As such, volunteering is linked to living longer, making healthier lifestyle choices, and noticing increased social support and positive feelings about yourself.
- Volunteering helps build your social network.
Volunteering improves health by encouraging social interaction and helping you develop new relationships. Social interaction, much like volunteering, has been linked to a host of positive health benefits. Building a strong social support network can buffer against stress and illness, leading to better quality of life.
When you volunteer with family or friends, it can strengthen your social bonds too. It also provides a unique chance to engage with different people and connect with other volunteers who might share your interests and values. All told, volunteering provides a rich and rewarding opportunity for positive social engagement beyond what might be possible in other activities.
- Volunteering is a good way to stay physically and mentally active.
Depending on the activity, volunteering might involve a level of physical activity that promotes fitness. For example, older volunteers tend to walk more, have less difficulty coping with everyday tasks, and reduce their risk of heart disease compared to those who don’t volunteer.
Even when volunteer work involves minimal physical activity, doing good for others provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Engaging in meaningful and interesting volunteer work can also be an energizing escape from the daily routine. Volunteering can provide opportunities for renewed creativity and motivation that can carry over into your personal and professional life. The pride and positive identity gained from volunteering greatly contributes to how people feel about themselves, leading to increased confidence and a renewed zest for life. These benefits can be long-lasting, as positive feelings about yourself are associated with better health and well-being throughout life.
- Volunteering can boost your career at all ages and stages.
Besides looking great on resumes and college applications, volunteering offers unique chances to learn valuable job skills and gain experience working in organizational settings. These benefits extend to volunteers of all ages. Nearly everyone values learning new skills and developing effective communication strategies.
If you or your loved ones are interested in pursuing a particular career path, try to find opportunities to volunteer within that field of work. You’ll develop marketable skills while showing a willingness to give your time and energy to support people and communities in need. If you’re already happily working in a career field, consider how your skills can benefit others. (Just be sure your volunteer work doesn’t conflict with your official work duties and takes place when you’re off duty.) Healthcare professionals, for example, can make long-lasting impacts in their communities by volunteering their time at an understaffed hospital or nursing home.
Get involved
There are many volunteer opportunities, year round, to help you get involved in your community. Animal rescue shelters, national parks, food pantries, blood drives, youth activity programs, and local libraries are just a few examples that provide fun and family-friendly ways to give where you live. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization, so make sure your volunteer position will be a good fit. When the experience is mutually beneficial, volunteer work can be meaningful, rewarding, and good for your health.About the Author: Dakota Gillmore is a clinical psychologist with the U.S. Army in Tacoma, WA. He completed his PhD in clinical psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.
* The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the United States Department of Defense.
