Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Benefits of Volunteering
9:33 AM | 
Posted by
Kaplan Center for Health and Wellness
You
know that good feeling you get when you help someone? The act can be anything from something small
and short term or assisting on a regular basis. Have you thought about the
long-term benefits and how this feeling enhances mental and physical health as
well?
Volunteering
and helping others has been shown by research to create a sense of personal
happiness. This positive feeling impacts
many other aspects of the volunteer’s life as well.
Just
knowing that you can help someone in need boosts self-confidence. Increased positive image carries though in
social situations, job performance, and family life. A happier individual is
more energetic and productive.
Mental stimulation,
by keeping the mind focused on task, helps with thought awareness. Less thoughts are directed to negative
situations or circumstances when more involved in a current situation while helping
others. When someone is working to help
another individual, their mind is often occupied with the task at hand and less
on negative or wandering, unhealthy thoughts.
As a
result from positive mindset, symptoms of depression can also decrease. While volunteering, there are opportunities
to socialize and this interaction generates positive energy. Additional opportunities from socialization include
making contacts and building relationships that benefit current or future
careers, making friends with similar interests, and create sense of belonging.
Finally,
as the volunteer stays active, this benefits physical health. Depending on the
type of activity, there is still some level of movement. In turn, assisting others can cause the
volunteer to take a closer look at personal health and the choices they make in
an effort to make positive changes for themselves.
Volunteering
is a win-win situation for everyone. It
can be done in as little as a few hours a week or on a regular basis. There are many places that look for
volunteers and they are always willing to accept any amount of time someone can
provide; just think of the positive impact!
Volunteering and it's Surprising Benefits, retrieved September 15, 2015 from HelpGuide.org: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/work-career/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm#wellbeing
Written by: Joyce Rode, MA
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