How Volunteering Can Boost Your Happiness

Volunteering is a great way to help those in need. But did you know that volunteering can give you some serious health benefits? It’s true! Take a look at four key ways volunteering can help yourself while helping others.

1) Giving your time to a cause helps combat loneliness. Being engaged in a volunteer task helps you socialize with others, which is a critical part of reducing cortisol, your body’s stress hormone. Plus, participating in a shared activity alongside others will help take your mind off your worries. In other words, volunteering reduces stress while helping to eliminate feelings of anger and anxiety.

2) Volunteering makes you feel good because of “helper’s high.” Endorphins, the “feel-good hormone”, flow freely in your brain while you volunteer. This shows that volunteering is a science-backed way of boosting your mood. Plus, volunteers are more physically active than non-volunteers. Giving your time can provide the extra boost of physical activity that you need to meet your health goals.

3) Restore a sense of purpose in yourself. When you volunteer, you are giving your time and energy to something that really matters. Let empathy take the wheel and give yourself a sense of fulfillment that you may have never felt before.

4) Volunteering is your window to gaining new experiences. Whether you’re looking for a career change or if you simply want to pick up a new skill, devoting your time to a cause could be the perfect way.

Turn your inspiration into action. Here are a few ideas to get started with volunteering:

• Lend a helping hand to Habitat for Humanity
• Local animal shelters always need help with cleaning kennels or taking dogs for a walk
• Be a math or reading tutor at your nearest school
• Help with local park clean-up days
• Ask your nearest food bank how you can help

 

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Sources:

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-mental-health-benefits-of-volunteering-5248549

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm