Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits - HelpGuide.org

Why volunteer?

With busy lives, it can be hard đồ sộ find time đồ sộ volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help đồ sộ people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you đồ sộ find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.

Giving đồ sộ others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have đồ sộ involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.

Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways đồ sộ feel healthier and happier

1. Volunteering connects you đồ sộ others.
2. Volunteering is good for your mind and body toàn thân.
3. Volunteering can advance your career.
4. Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment đồ sộ your life.

Benefit 1: Volunteering connects you đồ sộ others

One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you đồ sộ connect đồ sộ your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference đồ sộ the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose đồ sộ help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.

Make new friends and contacts

One of the best ways đồ sộ make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is đồ sộ commit đồ sộ a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way đồ sộ meet new people, especially if you are new đồ sộ an area. It strengthens your ties đồ sộ the community and broadens your tư vấn network, exposing you đồ sộ people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

Increase your social and relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity đồ sộ practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier đồ sộ branch out and make more friends and contacts.

Volunteering as a family

Children watch everything you vì thế. By giving back đồ sộ the community, you’ll show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels đồ sộ help other people and animals and enact change. It’s also a valuable way for you đồ sộ get đồ sộ know organizations in the community and find resources and activities for your children and family.

Benefit 2: Volunteering is good for your mind and body

Volunteering provides many benefits đồ sộ both mental and physical health.

Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social liên hệ aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better kêu ca a meaningful connection đồ sộ another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown đồ sộ improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular liên hệ with others and helps you develop a solid tư vấn system, which in turn protects you against depression.

Volunteering makes you happy. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful đồ sộ others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired đồ sộ give đồ sộ others. The more we give, the happier we feel.

[Read: Cultivating Happiness]

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. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are đồ sộ have a positive view of your life and future goals.

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 đồ sộ your life.

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate kêu ca those who vì thế not. Older volunteers tend đồ sộ walk more, find it easier đồ sộ cope with everyday tasks, are less likely đồ sộ develop high blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease.

I have limited mobility—can I still volunteer?

People with disabilities or chronic health conditions can still benefit greatly from volunteering. In fact, research has shown that adults with disabilities or health conditions ranging from hearing and vision loss đồ sộ heart disease, diabetes or digestive disorders all show improvement after volunteering.

Whether due đồ sộ a disability, a lack of transportation, or time constraints, many people choose đồ sộ volunteer their time via phone or computer. In today’s digital age, many organizations need help with writing, graphic design, gmail, and other web-based tasks. Some organizations may require you đồ sộ attend an initial training session or periodical meetings while others can be conducted completely remotely. In any volunteer situation, make sure that you are getting enough social liên hệ, and that the organization is available đồ sộ tư vấn you should you have questions.

Benefit 3: Volunteering can advance your career

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity đồ sộ practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first.

Teaching you valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent.

[Read: Finding the Right Career]

Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them đồ sộ benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you can raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

Gaining career experience

Volunteering offers you the chance đồ sộ try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way đồ sộ gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home page.

Your volunteer work might also expose you đồ sộ professional organizations or internships that could benefit your career.

When it comes đồ sộ volunteering, passion and positivity are the only requirements

While learning new skills can be beneficial đồ sộ many, it’s not a requirement for a fulfilling volunteer experience. Bear in mind that the most valuable assets you can bring đồ sộ any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness đồ sộ pitch in wherever needed, and a positive attitude.

Benefit 4: Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment đồ sộ your life

Volunteering is a fun and easy way đồ sộ 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 also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

[Read: Building Better Mental Health]

Many people volunteer in order đồ sộ make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance, if you have a desk job and long đồ sộ spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering đồ sộ help plant a community garden, walk dogs for an animal shelter, or help out at a children’s camp.

How đồ sộ find the right volunteer opportunity

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available. The key is đồ sộ find a position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing. It’s also important đồ sộ make sure that your commitment matches the organization’s needs. Ask yourself the following:

• Would you lượt thích đồ sộ work with adults, children, animals, or remotely from home?
• Do you prefer đồ sộ work alone or as part of a team?
• Are you better behind the scenes or vì thế you prefer đồ sộ take a more visible role?
• How much time are you willing đồ sộ commit?
• What skills can you bring đồ sộ a volunteer job?
• What causes are important đồ sộ you?

Consider your interests

You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time đồ sộ identify your goals and interests. Think about why you want đồ sộ volunteer. What would you enjoy doing? The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely đồ sộ be fun and fulfilling.

What are your volunteering goals?

To find a volunteer position that’s right for you, look for something that matches your personality, skills, and interests. Ask yourself if there is something specific you want đồ sộ vì thế or achieve as a volunteer.

For example, you might want to:

• Improve your neighborhood.
• Meet new people with different outlooks or experiences.
• Try something new.
• Do something rewarding with your spare time.
• See new places or experience a different way of living.
• Try a new type of work that you might want đồ sộ pursue as a full-time job.
• Expand on your interests and hobbies.

Consider several volunteer possibilities

Don’t limit yourself đồ sộ just one organization or one specific type of job. Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different. Try đồ sộ visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are lượt thích and if you click with other staff and volunteers.

Where đồ sộ find volunteer opportunities

• Community theaters, museums, and monuments.
• Libraries or senior centers.
• Service organizations such as Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs.
• Local animal shelters, rescue organizations, or wildlife centers.
• Youth organizations, sports teams, and after-school programs.
• Historical restorations, national parks, and conservation organizations.
• Places of worship such as churches or synagogues.
• Online directories and other resources (see below).

How much time should you volunteer?

Volunteering doesn’t have đồ sộ take over your life đồ sộ be beneficial. In fact, research shows that just two đồ sộ three hours per week, or about 100 hours a year, can confer the most benefits—to both you and your chosen cause. The important thing is đồ sộ volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable đồ sộ you. Volunteering should feel lượt thích a fun and rewarding hobby, not another chore on your to-do list.

Getting the most out of volunteering

You’re donating your valuable time, sánh it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit:

Ask questions. You want đồ sộ make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want đồ sộ spend. Sample questions for your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what đồ sộ vì thế if you have questions during your experience.

Make sure you know what’s expected. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Consider starting small sánh that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility đồ sộ change your focus if needed.

Don’t be afraid đồ sộ make a change. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit or feel compelled đồ sộ stick with a volunteer role you dislike. Talk đồ sộ the organization about changing your focus or look for a different organization that’s a better fit.

If volunteering overseas, choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm kêu ca good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers. Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations.

Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how đồ sộ proceed.

Last updated or reviewed on August 21, 2024