Benefits of Volunteering

Benefits of volunteering

Do your brain a favour - volunteer!

There are many reasons for volunteering.

• Give back to your community
• Develop a new skill
• Expand your social network

But have you considered the health benefits of volunteering? Keeping your brain in shape is another important reason for volunteering, and a healthy brain is vital for healthy aging.

Volunteering not only engages your mind and body, but it can actually help you age well and reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Healthy reasons to volunteer

• Improve your physical and mental well-being
• Meeting new people and engaging in activity can boost oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine and endorphin, the “feel good” neurochemicals that reduce stress, anxiety and improve your immune system.
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• The satisfaction of knowing you've made a positive difference in someone's life increases your own self- worth and confidence. If you're experiencing difficult times, volunteering has the extra advantage of giving you a sense of purpose.
• Expand your network of social support
• Connecting with new people in different settings helps open your mind to new perspectives, widens your social network and reduces depression and isolation.
• Live longer and healthier
• Staying engaged and curious about your world helps keep you young at heart and feeling vibrant. The bottom line is that life-long learning is key for improving the quality of life and for healthy aging.
• Volunteering is easy. Consider your own interests and skills, then think of who might benefit. It could be as easy as tutoring young people in a subject you enjoy, lending a hand at your community theatre, or joining a board at a local group or charity.
• Whatever you do, start early. The sooner you start volunteering, the greater the benefits you'll reap later on in life.