Most people are so busy with their daily lives that they fail to stop and evaluate if they’re using their time most valuably. One such thing that most people tend to forget is giving back to something greater than themselves. Undoubtedly, volunteering has positive effects on our community. However, it is commonly agreed upon that volunteering to support those in need or voicing for noble causes is worthwhile.
Volunteering can help the communities and the volunteers since it allows them to focus on other things besides their concerns and daily struggles. Anil Chandrakumar, a volunteer coordinator for the New York City Parks Department, believes that volunteering represents one of the few selfless deeds we do in society. “A week contains 168 hours in it. It is similar to medication if you can give a fraction of that time to something beyond yourself,” he says.
Social scientists and health professionals say that volunteering and community service benefit our bodies and soul. Volunteering will encourage you to be cheerful, explore new things, form a community, and discover what drives you. Here are some ways you can benefit through volunteer work and community service:
It Improves Your Mood
Undoubtedly, volunteering can put you in a better mood. This can be the ideal choice for those generally less cheerful. According to the findings published in the Journal of Economic Psychology, volunteering has more significant psychological impacts on those who are already depressed compared to those who are generally upbeat.
As per Trish Lockard, a volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and co-author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism, “Research indicates that when we help others, it brings them comfort and encouragement, our brains produce a higher level of happiness hormones: serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins.” She states that this sensation is referred to as a “helper’s high.”
It Lessens Feelings of Loneliness
Most people assume that being at home makes you happier than being elsewhere. However, social distancing lead millions of Americans to more severe levels of loneliness than anyone ever anticipated. According to Lockard, social isolation not only makes us feel more than just tired or lonely; it also excessively produces Cortisol, a hormone strongly connected with stress in the body.
Moreover, according to Lockard, connecting with others can improve a more unified mental outlook. In addition, it helps you meet individuals with similar interests. “Participating in a shared activity brings people closer together,” is what she believes.
It Helps Expand Your Social Network
Once you are an adult, connecting with people or making new friends can be challenging. When you volunteer, you are surrounded. Such a setup gives you the possibility of making new friends. According to research, new friendships are necessary as we age, and volunteering is an effective way of achieving the following, as per research. Following a study in the journal Innovation in Aging, older people who engage in community service make more friends and see them more often than others.
One of the most important advantages of volunteering is learning to be confident when interacting with strangers, which will help introverts, particularly those terrified of making new acquaintances.
It Enhances Physical Health
Not only does helping others improve your mental health, but it can also make your heart happy. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University concluded that older adults who volunteer at least 200 hours a year generally have 40% lower chances of hypertension or high blood pressure.
Moreover, it’s not just blood pressure; other aspects of heart health also benefit from doing good. Based on findings from the University of Massachusetts Boston, volunteers are less likely to experience heart disease-related warning symptoms, including belly obesity and high blood sugar levels. Moreover, a University of Kentucky study revealed that volunteering could also reduce the warning signs of chronic pain.
It Provides Career Skills/Experience
However you choose to volunteer, the practical experience you obtain from it can help you learn new things, polish your current skills, and develop new goals. Chandrakumar states, “Volunteering is great for people who want a career change.” Very rarely would an experienced professional in the corporate world share their knowledge so freely. As per Chandrakumar, volunteer work can help you determine your future goals. His experience with plenty of volunteers makes him believe they enjoy outdoor activities more than office work.
Compels You to Leave Your Comfort Zone
Volunteering can pull you out of your comfort zone and encourage you to explore something different. It can place you in new or unfamiliar settings, pushing you to deal with issues that require rapid reactions.
Gathering knowledge and skills for your career may not be as enjoyable as the experience you gather from volunteering. Chandrakumar states that, in a workplace, you mostly get to see intense competition. However, when volunteering, everyone wishes to lend a hand to a better cause.
It Helps Your Brain Stays Healthy
Apart from improving your mood and filling your heart with happiness, volunteering also dramatically affects your cognitive function and the possibility of dementia. In a five-year study published in the journal PLOS One, older adults who volunteered consistently had a reduction in their cognitive symptoms over time. However, the other groups saw no such thing.
By keeping your brain busy with new activities regularly, you can continue to keep your brain sharp. Compared to those who didn’t volunteer, active volunteers had an approximately 2.5 times lower chance of having dementia.
It May Help Increase Life Expectancy
Undoubtedly, volunteering can reward you with a longer and happier life. Investing your time in community service will significantly increase your life span. Volunteering can reduce death by 47%, as stated in a study of individuals older than 55, published in the journal Psychology and Aging.
This is because volunteering has numerous benefits. Along with boosting one’s state of mind, which could contribute to reducing anxiety and the possibility of heart disease and cancer.
It Gives You a Sense of Purpose
Volunteering can give you a sense of purpose when you are feeling depressed. According to Lockard, investing your time in a good cause can lead you to find new meaning in unexpected events. It is also an excellent approach to practice thankfulness. “Knowing I am making a difference to any degree is the greatest feeling in the world,” says Lockard.
Ways To Volunteer Your Time
As mentioned earlier, individual interests can help determine the perfect volunteer activities and community service for you. Below are a few methods of volunteering:
Spend Time with Lonely Elderly People
Spend more time with elderly people, especially if they are retired, widowed, physically disabled, or do not have a family within reach. People grow when they are emotionally connected.
Help Children in Need
Children are the most vulnerable humans, and they need exceptional love, care, and nurturing. Sadly, some do not get this kind of care from their homes, but that’s where well-meaning volunteers can help them. For instance, babies born to drug-addicted parents can recover faster from being cuddled, held, sung, and spoken to. Across America, volunteer opportunities called “cuddle care” have arisen, which calls for some instruction in the program.
Protect Marine Life
Trash, like cans, plastic bags, and bottles, eventually makes its way to the ocean, killing fish, birds, and animals. You can make a positive impact by supporting the Ocean Conservancy, which cleans up rivers and oceans. Additionally, you can either form campaigns or join existing ones.
Support National Parks
Nature-focused volunteer possibilities are available across many national parks. Enjoying little pleasures every moment and leading a meaningful life is possible by spending as much time with nature. There are scientifically-backed benefits to spending time in nature, so you can give back to mother earth while enriching your body and soul.
