The benefits of volunteering

The benefits of volunteering are many and of different kinds. Participating as a volunteer in a social and/or humanitarian cause brings great value to others, but also to oneself. Through volunteering we help ourselves while helping others.

The truth is that it is difficult to find time for others., with everything we have to do day by day. However, the benefits of volunteering are so great that it is worth considering whether we really cannot dedicate a little time to developing an activity for the benefit of others.

But what can volunteering offer me that makes it worth taking time away from daily chores? For starters, it allows us to meet new people and make friends, develop skills and even advance our careers. In addition, it can help us protect our health, both mental and physical. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of volunteering.

Benefits of volunteering: it connects you with others

Spending your time volunteering helps you make new friendssocial skills

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people. Volunteering also strengthens ties with the community and expand your support network, bring together people with common interests with whom you can carry out fun and satisfying activities.

On the other hand, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skillseven if you are a little shy or reserved, since you will periodically meet with people with common interests and objectives.

Volunteering is good for your body and mind

The benefits of volunteering are reflected in health, both mental and physical. Let’s look at it in more detail.

1. Volunteering increases self-confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction

Doing something good for others will make you feel fulfilled and proud of yourself. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you will be to have a more positive outlook on life and the future.

Reducing the risk of depression is another of the great benefits of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a strong support network that will protect you from sadness when you’re going through difficult times.

As the Dalai Lama states, “Just by being able to reduce the scope of our selfish instincts and develop a little more concern for others before we die, we can say that we have taken advantage of this life”. In these words, we can see that, By volunteering, we will be reducing our selfish instincts. That is, we will be giving ourselves to others selflessly.

Richard Davidson, doctor in neuropsychology, postulates that “One of the most important things I have discovered about kindness and tenderness is that they can be trained at any age.”“. And he adds that “Studies tell us that By stimulating tenderness in children and adolescents, they improve their academic results, their emotional well-being and their health.“.

Volunteering also has a positive impact on your well-being. Research found that volunteer work increases life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and depression.

2. Volunteering increases happiness

Pleasurable and meaningful activities like helping others can increase your happiness. In one study, researchers found that People who volunteer are happier than those who don’t. Using data from about 70,000 participants in the United Kingdom, scientists found that compared to participants who did not volunteer, those who did were more satisfied with their lives.

3. Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy

Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but It is especially beneficial in older people, because it forces them to move, among many other factors. Research has found that participation in voluntary services significantly predicts better mental and physical health (McDougle et al., 2014; Piliavin and Siegl, 2007).

Studies have found that People who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who don’t, even when factors such as the health of the participants are considered. Besides, the volunteer helps reduce the symptoms of chronic pain and the likelihood of developing high blood pressure.

In relation to chronic pain, Salt, Crofford, and Segerstrom (2017) found that people who volunteered fewer times had more pain, lower perceived purpose in life, more depressive symptoms, and less physical activity. They also discovered that Volunteering improves depressive symptoms and life purpose in women with pain.

4. Volunteering reduces depression and stress

Research has shown that volunteering reduces depression levels in people over 65 years of age. Likewise, it has been discovered that it can be an excellent stress buffer. One study found that the association between daily stressors and negative affect was weaker on days when people volunteered than on days when they did not.

5. Volunteering can help you advance your career

By volunteering you get experience in an area of ​​interest related to your career and you can meet people in that field. Besides, Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills necessary for many jobs, even if your profession is not directly related to your volunteer work.

These skills can be related to teamworkcommunication, problem solving, project planning, task management and organization.

6. Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life

Volunteering will help you find meaning in your life

Another benefit of volunteering is that will help you renew your creativityyour motivation and your vision of life, which you can take advantage of in your personal and professional life.

Finally, many people volunteer to enjoy hobbies outside of work.. For example, if you have a desk job and spend little time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden, go on local field trips, or help out at children’s camps.

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