Volunteering your way to better health is a fact. Volunteering is good for the soul and more. I assume everyone knows this, right? When I do good things, when I volunteer and help, I feel good. And when I feel good, it must mean good things are happening to me physically and mentally, right? Everyone knows this, don’t they? But wait, why are there so many angry people? Who are they helping with their rage? Don’t they realize they may be damaging their well-being? Maybe everyone doesn’t know that helping others is good for the body and spirit. Do you?

Volunteering Your Way to Better Health

How Do You Feel? 

Are you one of the angry ones? At some level, you must know it’s not good for you. Do you tell yourself volunteering would be great, but you just don’t have the time? Several studies show that only 2 hours per week, 100 hours per year, of volunteering will reap huge benefits in health and wellness.

“Volunteers report better physical health than non-volunteers. Research also has shown that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety, especially for people 65 and older. Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine.” — Mayo Clinic.

“A national survey of 3,351 adults conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of UnitedHealth demonstrates that volunteering is good for your health. Here are some of the takeaways from this research: Volunteers say they feel better—physically, mentally and emotionally…” — Nonprofit Quarterly. 

Is Your Heart in the Right Place? 

Seriously, those who give, who have their heart in the right place, experience improved health—even with heart disease. What ails you? Could volunteering be part of the answer for your health and wellness improvement plan?

“In a study published in The Gerontologist, middle-aged volunteers were less likely to have abdominal fat and high blood glucose than non-volunteers. They also had healthier levels of “good” HDL cholesterol. Older volunteers were less likely to have high blood pressure than their non-volunteer counterparts.” — American Heart Association

Can You Feel the Pain? 

Studies have shown that volunteering can impact sufferers of chronic pain.

“People with chronic pain experienced a reduction in pain intensity and less disability when they started to work as peer volunteers for others suffering from chronic pain.” — Rush University Health Center

It IS Better to Give than Receive!

That giving is better than receiving isn’t only a wise adage—it’s the truth. Several studies have shown that those who give receive more than they share. They get happiness in return, and happiness is healthy. “In one study, people were asked to spend $5 on themselves or someone else. Guess which group was measurably happier? Those who spent money on other people.” — Happify

Make Time to Help

Not only can you do it, but you should. You should do it for yourself, for your health, and well-being, both physically and mentally. Two hours per week is all it takes. Find a cause or charity that speaks to you that moves you, and then make yourself available to help. It’s not complicated. In return, you’ll receive the benefits of happiness: improved health and mental well-being. Do you volunteer? What does volunteering do for you?

How Can I Help You? 

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me. 

So, does your business have a management training plan? Because if not, many organizations, large and small, use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. Check it out. It might help you stop putting off what you want to do.

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