Helping out and volunteering can help us win friends, gain a different set of skills, push forward our careers, and greatly improve our mental health.

What is Volunteering?

Survival is when we feed, clothe, and protect ourselves. When we start finding meaning in what we do and the choices we make, we start living. But when the things we do are being done for others, that is the spirit of volunteerism.

It’s Good for the Soul

When we volunteer, we establish a connection and a bond with other human beings with the same beliefs and passion. Not to mention the impact volunteering has on us, our family, and the community.

Volunteering melts away the effects of anxiety, stress, and anger. It counters depression. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful tie to another person. It also gives us a sense of purpose, that something that helps us get out of bed because others need help.

Volunteering aids us to stay physically healthy. According to studies, those who volunteer have longer lives than those who do not. Older volunteers tend to walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, have a lower likelihood of developing high blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease (Wilson, 2012).

When to Volunteer?

Anytime is the best time to volunteer. Whether there’s a crisis, natural disaster, or if there isn’t. Learn to read your passion, what are you good at? What can you do? What do you want to do? And who do you want to help? With or without an answer, the time to help is always NOW.