Volunteering & its Surprising Benefits

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer.  However, the benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family, & your community.  The right match can help you find friends, reach out to the community, learn  new skills, & even advance your career.  Volunteering can also help protect your mental & physical  health.  Learn more about the many benefits of volunteering & find tips on getting started as a volunteer.

Benefits of volunteering #1:  Volunteering connects you to others

One of the better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community.  Unpaid volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together.  Volunteering allows you to connect to your community & make it a better place.  Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, & organizations in need.  And volunteering is a two-way street:  it can benefit you & your family as much as the cause you choose to help.  Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, & boost your social skills.

Volunteering helps you make new friends & contacts

One of the best ways to make new friends & strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together.  Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area.  Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community & broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, & fun & fulfilling activities.

Volunteering increases your social & relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy & have a hard time meeting new people.  Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice & develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests.  Once you have momentum, its easier to branch out & make more friends & contacts.

Volunteering as a family 

While it might be a challenge to coordinate everyone's schedules, volunteering as a family has many worthwhile benefits. Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community,you show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference & how good it feels to help other people & animals & enact change. It's also a valuable way for you to get to know organizations in the community & find resources & activities for your children & family.

Benefits of volunteering #2:  Volunteering is good for your mind & body

Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental & physical health.

• Volunteering increases self-confidence.  Volunteering can provide a healthy boose to your self-confidence, self-esteem, & life satisfaction.  You are doing good for others & the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment.  Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride & identity.  And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life & future goals.


• Volunteering provides a sense of purpose.  Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning & purpose in their lives by helping others.  Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off of your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, & add more zest to your life.


• Volunteering combats depression.  A key risk factor for depression is social isolation.  Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others & helps you develop a slid support system, which in turn protects you against stress & depression when you're going through challenging times.  Working with pets & other animals has also been shown to improve mood & reduces stress & anxiety.


• Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy.  The physical activity involved in certain forms of volunteering - such as environmental projects in parks, nature reserves, or beaches - can be good for your health at any age, but it's especially beneficial in older adults.  Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of participants.  Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

I have limited mobility - can I still volunteer?

People with disabilities or chronic health conditions can still benefit greatly from volunteering.  In fact, research has shown that adults with disabilities or health conditions ranging from hearing & vision loss to heart disease, diabetes or digestive disorders all show improvement after volunteering.

Whether due to a disability, a lack of transportation, or time constraints, many people choose to volunteer their time via phone or computer.  There are many projects where you can help.  Writing & graphic design lends itself to working at home, & in today's digital age many organizations  might also need help with email & websites.

If you think home-based volunteering  might be right for you, contact organization you like & ask about the possibilities.  Some volunteer organizations may require you to attend an initial training or periodical meetings.  You also want to make sure that you are getting enough social contact, & tha the organization is available to support you should you have questions.

Volunteering:  The happiness effect

Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated.  When researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering & measures of happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in social Science & Medicine.  Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being "very happy" rose 7% among those who volunteer monthly & 12% for people who volunteer every two to four weeks.  Among weekly volunteers, 16% felt very happy - a hike in happiness compareable to having an income of $75,000-$100,000 versus $20,000, say the researchers.

Adapted with permission from Simple Changes, Big Rewards:  A Practical, Easy Guide for Healthy, Happy Living, a special health report published by Harvard Health Publications.

Benefits of volunteering #3:  Volunteering can advance your career

If you're considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest & meet people in the field.  Even if you're not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, & organization.  You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you've honed these skills in a volunteer position first.

Volunteering can provide a career experience

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment.  It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field.  In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you're interested in.  For example, if you're interested nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or nursing home.  Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could be of benefit to your career.

Volunteering can teach you valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic.  Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training.  For example you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women's shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent.

Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have & use them to benefit the greater community.  For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing & improving your public speaking, communication, & marketing skills.

When it comes to volunteering, passion, & positivity are the only requirements.

While learning new skills can be beneficial to many, it's not a requirement for a fulfilling volunteer experience.  Bear in mind that the most valuable skills you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, & a positive attitude.

Benefits of volunteering #4:  Volunteering brings fun & fulfillment to your life 

Volunteering is a fun & easy way to explore your interests & passions.  Doing volunteer work you find meaningful & interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-today routine of work, school, or family commitments.  Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, & vision that can carry over into your personal & professional life.

Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well.  For instance, if you have a desk job & long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden, walk dogs for an animal shelter, or help out at a children's camp.

Consider your goals & interests when volunteering

You will have a richer & more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals & interests.  Start by thinking about why you want to volunteer.  Also think about what you would enjoy doing.  Volunteer opportunities that match both your goals & your interests are most likely to be fun & fulfilling for you.

Tips for getting started volunteering

First, ask yourself if there is something specific you want to do.

For example, do I want...

• ...to make it better around where I live
• ...to meet people who are different than me 
• ...to try something new
• ...to do something with my spare time
• ...to see a different way of life & new places
• ...to have a go at the type of work I want to do as a full-time job
• ...to do more with my interests & hobbies
• ...to do something I'm good at

The best way to volunteer is to match your personality & interests.  Having answers to these questions will narrow down your search.

Source:  World Volunteer Web

How to find the right volunteer opportunity

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available.  The key is to find a volunteer position that you would enjoy & are capable of doing.  It's also important to make sure your commitment matches the organization's needs.  The following can help you narrow your options:

• Would you like to work with adults, children, or animals, or remotely from home?
• Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?
• Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?
• How much time are you willing to commit?
• How much responsibility are you ready to take on?
• What skills can you being to a volunteer job?
• What causes are important to you?

Consider several volunteer possibilities

In your search fr the right volunteer opportunity, don't limit yourself to just one organization or one specific type of job.  Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different.  Try to visit different organizations & get a feel for what they are like & if you click with other staff & volunteers.  The more satisfaction you have as a volunteer, the better your contributions & the more likely you'll continue.

Where do I find volunteer opportunities?

• Community theaters, museums, & monuments
• Libraries or senior centers
• Service organizations such as Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs
• Local animal shelters
• Youth organizations, sports teams, & after-school programs
• Historical restorations, national parks, & conservation organizations
• Places of worship such as churches or synagogues
• Online databases 

How much should you volunteer?

Volunteering doesn't have to take over your life to be beneficial.  In fact, research shows that just two to three hours per week, or about 100 hours a year, can confer the most benefits - to both you & your chosen cause. Volunteering should feel like a fun & rewarding hobby, not another chore on your to-do list.

Getting the most out of volunteering

You're donating your valuable time, so it's important that you enjoy & benefit from your volunteering.  It's important to make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit & to communicate with the people you're working with in the volunteer organization.

• Ask questions.  You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, & the time you want to spend.  If you have any questions, be sure to speak up.  Sample questions to your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there's any training involved, who you will be working with, & what to do if you have question during your experience.


• Make sure you know what's expected.  Before starting, make sure you are comfortable with the organization, know what is expected, & understand the time commitment.  consider starting small so that you don't over commit yourself at first.  Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed.


• Don't be afraid o make a change.  Speak up if your experience isn't what you expected.  Don't force yourself into a bad fit.  Talk to the organization about changing your focus or consider looking for another match.


• If volunteering overseas, choose carefully.  Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers.  Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations.


• Enjoy yourself.  Most importantly, make sure you're having fun!  The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer & the organization.  If you're not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why.  Is it the tasks you're performing?  The people you're working with?  Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new & unfamiliar?  Pinpointing what's bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

Shared from:  http://www.helpguide.org/articles/work-career/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm