Self-Improvement Through Selfless Action: 5 Ways Volunteering Improves Your Health
Volunteering is more than just an act of giving – it is an undertaking that inspires connection, community, and pride in oneself. Volunteering creates healthier communities, which in turn create a better world. That is why the United Nations has set aside December 5th of each year as International Volunteer Day. So, in celebration of this day – here’s 5 ways lending a helping hand to others can improve your life.
- Get Happier and Healthier
Did you know volunteering can make you happier and healthier? Yep, science says so! According to the Journal of Happiness Studies, people who volunteer tend to be happier than those who don’t. That’s because engaging in prosocial, community oriented activities causes your brain to release “feel-good” chemicals like oxytocin. Those who volunteer regularly have lower blood pressure, experience less stress, and live longer lives. It’s like a workout for your heart and soul!
- Expand Your World
Volunteering draws people from diverse backgrounds and unites them in a common goal. Collaborating with people from cultures outside of your own can offer invaluable life experience, along with the opportunity to build lifelong friendships.
- Learn New Skills
Volunteer work can teach you skills you might never come across in your day-to-day life. Want to learn how to organize an event, build a house, or cook for a crowd? Volunteering can teach you! These skills don’t just look great on your resume, they’ll enrich your personal life too! If you’re considering a career change, working as a volunteer in a new field can help you get started.
- Find A Sense of Purpose
Giving back is an empowering experience. Each time you volunteer, you grow as a person. With each task you complete, you gain confidence, competence, and a greater sense of purpose. Seeing the impact of your efforts reminds you of the difference you can make in the world.
- Escape And Get A Break
Volunteering is an excellent way to break up the monotony of your daily routine. Whether you’re meeting new people, caring for animals, or spending time in nature, volunteering offers a chance to see life from a fresh perspective.
Celebrate International Volunteer Day on December 5!
This December 5, celebrate International Volunteer Day by contributing your time and effort to a cause that calls to you. Whether it’s cleaning up a local park, helping out a shelter, or supporting an online campaign, every effort makes a difference. You can even log your hours in your Motivation Alliance portal and reflect on the experience in the Reflection Journal! So go ahead – grab a friends, find a cause, and spread a little joy this International Volunteer Day!
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Resources:
Angela Thoreson, L. I. C. S. W. (2023, August 1). 3 health benefits of volunteering. Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/3-health-benefits-of-volunteering
Harvard Health Publishing. (2016, June 3). The many ways volunteering is good for your heart. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/many-ways-volunteering-good-heart-201606039726
Lane, A. B. (2024, May 2). Research shows that volunteering makes us happier. Community Tech Network. https://communitytechnetwork.org/blog/research-shows-that-volunteering-makes-us-happier/
Lawton, R. N., Gramatki, I., Watt, W., & Fujiwara, D. (2020, March 17). Does volunteering make us happier, or are happier people more likely to volunteer? addressing the problem of reverse causality when estimating the wellbeing impacts of Volunteering – Journal of Happiness Studies. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-020-00242-8
Sussex Publishers. (2014, April 24). The neuroscience of giving. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/vitality/201404/the-neuroscience-giving#:~:text=The%20Happiness%20Trifecta%3A%20Helping%20others%20triggers%20a%20release,oxytocin%20is%20boosted%2C%20so%20are%20serotonin%20and%20dopamine%21
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2023, September 26). An overview of international volunteer day (IVD). International Volunteer Day (IVD). https://www.unv.org/Basic-Page/International-Volunteer-Day-overview
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The Team at BSDI