Volunteering is such an important activity, for it helps so many people and animals who would otherwise have a less healthy and happy time. Did you know, though, that volunteering is also a very rich source of benefits for the volunteers themselves?
Health benefits include:
- You get to choose what you're interested in There are a myriad of ways to volunteer and you can match your service with whatever you're interested in, such as babies, teens, animals, the aged, organisations, those in hospital, food, special needs, sport, reading and so on. You might match it to your current skill base or try something completely different.
- Gives a sense of purpose and valuable skills Supporting others gives you a sense of meaning, purpose and appreciation as well as the opportunity to learn something new.
- Opportunity to form relationships You get to meet people, those you're helping and others doing the same. It's a chance to meet with people from all walks of life.
- Gets you on your feet When you're volunteering, you get to move around without even noticing that you're exercising. This improves both your physical and psychological health.
- Creates a natural "high" Helping others promotes a natural feel-good high. It stimulates the mesolimbic system, which is the reward pathway in the brain. It releases important neutrotransmitters such as oxytocin and vesopressin. Basically, it gives you a buzz.
- Enhances mood It's amazing that by helping others, you're helping elevate your own mood and emotions. You realise you can help others who need you and that you're not alone.
- Improves cognition Solving problems and communicating improves your brain functioning and can prevent or delay dementia.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”