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Volunteering and Its Benefits
Do you agree that you get more from giving something than from receiving? Think of a generous person in your life – can you imagine them being unhappy and disgruntled?
“No one has ever become poor by giving”, said Anne Frank, and we couldn’t agree more. Even if you can’t afford to offer material goods, there are plenty of other ways to express your generosity, including volunteering. More than giving money or various items, volunteering or offering your time and commitment to a cause brings you unexpected benefits. Here are just a few reasons to start helping other people in your free time:
Living a longer life
According to the American Psychological Association, people who volunteer motivated by altruistic reasons may live longer than those who don’t. A study performed on more than 10,000 high school students from their graduation in 1957 until present suggested that volunteers live longer than people who don’t volunteer or do it for self-centered reasons. It’s not difficult to understand why these people led longer lives – volunteering has helped them forget about their own troubles, decreased their stress level, and made them feel fulfilled by helping others.
Improving social skills and making new friends
Volunteering is one of the easiest ways of making new friends because you meet people having the same hobbies and passions. People sharing an activity develop common interests, build a support network, and become part of a stronger community. If you are rather shy and you don’t feel confident about meeting new people or you are new to an area, volunteering is the perfect occasion to develop you social skills and meet new people without feeling awkward.
Providing older adults with a sense of purpose
Seniors who are retired or lost a spouse often find it difficult to cope with these changes. Volunteering can help them find a new meaning and purpose of life by helping other people or supporting a cause. Even people suffering from chronic health conditions or living with disabilities can volunteer, and often notice an improvement in their well-being after getting involved in volunteering programs. Limited mobility is not an obstacle either – you can become part of a project by working from home on your computer.
Improving mental health
Occupational therapy has been successfully used in the treatment of mental disorders for decades. People who engage in a pleasant and useful activity forget about their worries and discontents. For instance, working with animals is known to reduce stress and anxiety. Moreover, volunteering helps you avoid social isolation, which is a major risk factor for depression. Going through difficult times is easier when you can rely on someone’ company or on a support network.
Increasing your productivity
Many people don’t volunteer because they consider themselves too busy to offer their time for a cause. In fact, volunteering can motivate you to organize your daily schedule more efficiently and focus on the things that matter. There’s a saying – If you need something done, ask a busy person. People who volunteer enjoy a better control of their schedules and develop new skills that help them succeed in other fields as well.
If you have never volunteered before, it’s time to give it a try. Remember though: most of these benefits apply if you volunteer for altruistic reasons, not in order to feel better about yourself or accumulate professional experience.
How will you help?
By the Spirit Room, a Winnipeg spiritual direction service, similar to a Winnipeg medium (http://www.spiritroom.ca).
