Life isn’t always what we would like
it to be. If we have children, they grow up and move on with their lives. One’s
work might pay the bills but may not be particularly satisfying or challenging.
Retirement may be a hard adjustment for some after the busy life of raising a
family and working. These situations may lead one to ponder, “what’s next in my
life?” Consider using some time constructively and giving back by volunteering.
Volunteering doesn’t have to be a
full-time commitment—you can decide how much time you want to offer. Many charities and agencies are short-staffed
and would welcome the assistance of volunteers.
As Field states, “Driven by empathy humans put themselves in the shoes
of others facing hardships and want to help others,” (2022). It is a part of
our humanity to want to ease the suffering of others.
Giving back to the community is a win-win
situation. Those who are in need benefit through various agencies within the
community or from caring individuals. Those individuals who volunteer or step
up can benefit both physically and mentally. This paper will explore some of
the benefits.
When you volunteer, you help others and
often expect nothing for yourself. No rewards, no praise, just the satisfaction
of helping others. You can, however, reap some worthy perks through
volunteering.
Better Mental
Health from Volunteering
One of the benefits of volunteering
can be better mental health. Even if one doesn’t experience common mental
health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, an overall feeling of
satisfaction and well-being is a plus for the volunteer. Listed below are some
of those perks:
·
When
you are busy with a worthy endeavor, you worry less about your own troubles or
challenges.
·
Have a
more positive outlook on life.
·
Working
with other volunteers or agency employees can lead to less feelings of
isolation or loneliness. This could lead to less depressive episodes or less
anxiety.
·
Feel a
sense of accomplishment. According to Harvard Health, volunteering can create a
sense of well-being from endorphins, a chemical sometimes referred to as “the
brain’s natural pain reliever,” (“Endorphins,” 2021). When you help others or
take part in an activity that you enjoy, endorphin release is the result.
·
Being
socially engaged can lead to better brain health, such as clarity of thought,
less cognitive decline, and keeping your critical thinking skills keen.
Physical Health
Benefits from Volunteering
·
Those
who are over the age of 50 and volunteer have less likelihood of developing
hypertension (high blood pressure), (Field, 2022). Hypertension can often lead
to other types of heart disease, strokes, and premature death.
·
Depending
on where you volunteer and what you do, you could lose weight, build muscle and
endurance, and even have better lab results due to increased activity, such as
blood glucose or lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides).
Ideas for Volunteering
Look
around your community and determine what volunteer opportunities are available
to you. Make a plan based on what appeals to you or perhaps a need that you
have a particular skill set or talent for. I would never leave you without some
options so here they are:
·
Play a
musical instrument weekly at the local senior center or long-term care
facility.
·
Lead
bingo games or art class at the senior center.
·
Help
at the food bank or soup kitchen.
·
Play
with dogs at the shelter, foster cats in your home, or help care for animals at
a rescue/sanctuary.
·
Offer
to drive elderly or disabled neighbors to medical appointments or to take them
grocery shopping.
·
Do
yardwork for those neighbors!
·
If you
are good at graphic design or creating designs, offer to print posters or
handouts for charitable events or to market local charities.
·
Respond
to a call for assistance, such as when a charitable organization requests
household goods or clothing for a family displaced by a house fire or loss of
income.
·
Donate
pet food to local rescues or offer to pay for Trap-Neuter-Release of feral
cats.
·
Carry
necessities in your car in a gallon zip lock bag to give to the homeless. Items
could include hand sanitizer, snack foods, toothbrush/paste, quarters to do
laundry, pet treats, etc.
·
Donate
cash to your favorite charity, whether online or locally.
Of course, there are many other ways you
can volunteer but the important thing is to decide if it’s something you can
put time into at this point in your life. Many of us already volunteer through
our church or schools so don’t discount what you are already offering.
Volunteering doesn’t have to be full-time or even in-person; donating cash or
services as you are available can be advantageous, too. To reap the benefits of
volunteering, make sure you are informed and happy volunteering!
Photo credits Pic Monkey
References
Endorphins: The Brain’s natural pain
reliever. Harvard Health.
(2021, July 20).
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/endorphins-the-brains-natural-pain-reliever
Field,
B. (2022, April 27). Can volunteer work boost your mental health?. Verywell
Mind.
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-mental-health-benefits-of-volunteering-5248549
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