volunteering benefits Archives

Well, spooky season is over, and it’s time to turn those pumpkins into pie. And before you know it, you’ll be battling the crowds in the shops, or more likely these days, firing up your credit cards online and watching packages pile up at your front door for the coming gift-giving season. But as the year glides towards its end, and our thoughts turn towards thanks, family, and giving, let’s not forget that giving isn’t only about prettily wrapped presents. One way to get into the spirit of the season is by volunteering your time – and not just at this time of year, but all year round. You’ll be doing good for others, and good for yourself! Find out how you can get started, and why you should.

Volunteering Is Good for Others and for You!

There’s no doubt that whatever organization you choose to give your time to will benefit from the work you do for them. But you’ll also benefit from getting out there and doing good! Consider this: did you know that studies show that volunteering for altruistic reasons is associated with a longer life, and a lower risk of dying? In fact, depending on the study, volunteering is associated with anywhere from a 20-60% reduction in death rates. To put that into perspective, the change to clean drinking water in the early 20th century (due to technological advances) caused a drop in death rates of only 15-20%.

So why is giving back so good for you? Some of the reasons include that volunteering is:

Great for your social life – Isolation isn’t good for anyone, but it’s especially bad for older adults. In fact, being/feeling isolated puts you at greater risk of developing a serious illness or dying. Volunteering gets you out and about among people, making connections, even if it’s for a few hours a week (or even virtual!)

A mood booster – Following on the idea of feeling isolated, older adults can be susceptible to depression if they feel like they’re lacking connection. Volunteering, though, can help stave off the blues: one study even found that 70% of elderly people who were experiencing five or more symptoms of depression saw a decrease in those symptoms after their first year of volunteering.

Good for your brain – Cognitive function is a big concern for a lot of older adults, but volunteering helps you to stay active, and stimulates your brain as you face new challenges, learn new skills, and converse with new people. All of this can mean better brain health as you age.

Physically engaging – According to some studies, less than a third of people over 65 are physically active – and that can be seriously bad for their health. Getting out of your house and volunteering (especially if it’s something that actually requires you to get out and move, like working at a community garden or working for a local election), can ensure you get your steps in, and get your blood pumping (to keep that heart healthy!)

Sounds good, right? The combination of knowing you’re giving back to your community and knowing you’re doing something that will improve your own life might be making you feel pretty motivated right now! So what are some ways that seniors can give their time?

Ideas for Ways to Give Back

Check out the following ideas for volunteering, and remember that there are both large national and local organizations that you can look into:

Work with children

If you’re missing your grandchildren, are still waiting for some, or just like to be around the littles in general, consider doing some volunteer work with children. There are lots of ways to do this, including:

Becoming a mentor at a local youth community center

Tutoring online (a great choice for those with mobility issues)

Getting involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization

Giving your time at a hospital – Many hospitals rely on volunteers to tutor patients, read stories, monitor playrooms, and assist families with whatever they may need during a child’s stay

Provide some hunger relief

Times have been tough for a lot of people, and organizations serving those who are food insecure are more in need of help than ever. If you’d like to help provide some relief, consider:

Starting a food drive in your community – You can also consider running a community fridge that puts free food right onto neighborhood streets

Volunteering for a local food pantry or shelter

Serving other seniors through Meals-on-Wheels

Doing some gardening at a community garden that provides food banks with produce

Drop some knowledge

If there’s something that you’ve been interested in for a long time, or there’s a hobby you want to spend more time with now that you’re retired, consider volunteering as a docent or a tour guide. Local colleges, museums, or other organizations often offer programs to train docents or tour guides, and you could end up educating others at botanical gardens, museums, historical sites, conservation groups, or even some seriously niche places, if that’s your thing.

Get outside

National parks are great places to visit, but are also great places to volunteer. If you want something more flexible, or have limited time, you can volunteer at one-time events at a park near you, or you can look into more long-term positions. And get this: if you give 250 volunteer hours, you’ll get a volunteer pass that gets you into all national parks for free!

Talk to the animals

Are you an animal lover? Local animal shelters, rescues, and humane societies are always in need of volunteers to care for animals, organize fundraising events, perform administrative tasks, or even help to rescue pets in the wake of floods, fires, and other natural disasters. If you want to do something more low-key, you could even consider taking in animals as a foster pet parent. Already have a pet who you think is a star? You could get them certified as a therapy animal and bring them into children’s hospitals, nursing homes, or hospice care.

Do some taxes!

Have years of doing taxes made you something of an expert (or are you a retired accountant)? There are a lot of people who aren’t so confident, and could certainly use some help. Check out local community centers that might offer this service, or talk to local businesses that might need some help.

Get political

Are you passionate about politics? Well, get out there and make your voice heard, and not just by voting! You can:

Canvass for a local politician who you believe in (and get some exercise while you’re at it)
Attend a phone bank

Circulate a petition

Organize a rally

Register people to vote

Work the polls on election day

Some of the above will get you moving, and all of them will get you connecting with other people!

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Volunteer Experience

Hopefully some of the above ideas speak to you! If you’re still not sure where to begin, consider the following tips for getting the most out of your volunteer experience:

Think about why you want to volunteer – What are your motivations? Thinking about this can help to steer you in the right direction.

Focus on your passions and talents – Think about what moves you, as well as what you’re good at and what you have to offer.

Look locally – All of the above are great ideas for how to get involved, and there are large organizations you can get involved with, but don’t forget to do a little research into the best local organizations to get involved with that allow you to work with children, animals, or whatever you’re most interested in.

Understand what will be required of you – Look at the specific qualifications for each possible organization, and what they expect of their volunteers, and make sure you will be a good fit for them and vice versa.

Don’t over-commit – Volunteering is great, but spreading yourself too thin is not. Remember that as fun as volunteering can be, it’s still work.

Bring a friend – You should go into a volunteer experience hoping to meet new people and make new connections, but it never hurts to bring someone along – most organizations need all the help they can get!

This is the time of year when we give thanks for what we have, and maybe also want to show our gratitude and spread the love by giving back to those around us. Volunteering is a great way to do that, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s also great for your body and mind, right? So think about getting out there and giving back, not just at this time of year, but all year round – you never know whose life you will touch, or how your own life will be touched. And don’t forget to tell us about your adventures in volunteering – we want to hear from you!

Co-written by Joanna Bowling

What better time for selflessness than the holidays? And nothing says “selfless” like volunteering. Volunteering can greatly impact your community and make a difference. Not only do you help others when you volunteer, but in some ways, you are helping yourself. “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”― Charles Dickens

Asian woman and caucasian man with blue shirts on that say "volunteer" putting their hands in a huddle. — *Volunteering offers benefits not only to those you are helping. You also receive benefits from giving others your free time.*

A 2012 study published in Health Psychology showed that people who volunteered their time with the right intentions (other than to feel good about themselves)lived longer. That’s right, we have evidence that kindness and compassion are the fountain of youth. Further down are six ways you can get an immediate benefit, all from helping another person.

1. Increases Sociability

When you volunteer, you expand your social network with both other workers and people in need. This creates strong bonds in your community. It also gets networking done, and you have a chance at future resources. For example, if you volunteer at a community garden, you could reap the benefits when the plants bear fruit.

Not only do you make new friends and future opportunities for yourself, you also improve your mental health. Studies have shown that people who volunteer have better brain function, better immune systems, and a lowered risk for depression and anxiety.

2. Improves Self-Esteem

When a person helps others, they get a sense of self-worth, which in turn boosts their confidence and self-esteem. Volunteering like this will give you a better outlook on life, and put situations in perspective. A person who has better self-esteem will have a more positive attitude and a brighter future. This is especially important for people as they age.

3. Reduces Risk Of Alzheimer’s

Social interaction and connections help seniors age, and they slow down the development of Alzheimer’s. Research proves that volunteering offers these same benefits; it’s because you’re using your brain in a social environment. Social service can only improve your brain’s elasticity, which in turn delays Alzheimer’s–or can prevent it altogether!

4. Lowers Blood Pressure

Preventing Alzheimer’s isn’t the only health improvement volunteering has to offer for older adults. It can also boost longevity.

A recent study from Carnegie Mellon University( published in Psychology and Aging) saw adults over age 50 who regularly volunteered were less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers.

5. Combats Stress & Depression

Three caucasian women laughing together in fall attire. — *Volunteering builds a solid support system, which is a critical component when you fight depression.*

Most loneliness stems from feeling disconnected, and volunteering solves that problem. Imagine receiving thanks for a job well done from a person you’ve helped. What better way to make a connection?

In this way, volunteering builds a solid support system, which is a critical component when you fight depression. Not to mention, when you give your time to help others, you feel accomplished, helpful, and happier. Work can literally take your mind off something. It’s hard to worry when you’re completely involved.

6. Learn New Skills

Certain volunteer jobs require training before you start. Whether you are helping counsel people in crisis, or raising awareness by marketing for a cause, you acquire these skills as you go. Instead of paying for classes, you can find a program that offers these opportunities in exchange for your time. Many provide educational benefits or even relief to impoverished areas of the world, or within our borders.

Hand writing with a pen into a book on a wooden table. — *Volunteering can help you learn new skills that you can take with you when applying to jobs.*

Companies like Americorp or Service Year are known for these cooperative programs. Signing up with them or a similar organization can open the door to new skills such as public speaking, counseling, or learning a new language. Why stop there? Not only do these look great on a resume, but they can also be a foot in the door to an internship or even a career.

Helping others is more symbiotic than we think. While you are giving up your time, this action improves your health, lifespan, and in some ways, provides a more positive future.

When you give out of the kindness of your heart, there is an immediate sense of gratification. Serotonin is released, and you feel happier after a good deed. Find a local event in your area and see if they could use some volunteers. You will open a door of opportunities within your health and social life.