by TKP Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Toni Toledo
There’s something so gratifying about volunteering. Volunteers often state they get more than they give. As the Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, the essence of life is “To serve others and do good”. If research is any indication, serving others might also be the essence of good health. In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month—let’s explore some of the benefits of volunteering.
One of the well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.
Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.
Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps develop a solid support system, which in turn protects against depression.
Volunteering can increase happiness. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel.
Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity.
Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to life.
Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy, too. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. A growing body of evidence suggests that people who give their time to others might also be rewarded with better outcomes including reduced chronic pain, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease overall, and a longer lifespan. Older volunteers tend to walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, and have better thinking skills.
Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering can also provide renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.
It’s clear—Volunteering Is Amazing! Here at TKP— our volunteers are VITAL. We thank them all from the bottom of our hearts and hope that this article sheds some light on the benefits of volunteering. Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month!
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