In today's tiring and busy world, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering are massive, both to you, and the community. Besides improving your mental and physical health, volunteering can help you find friends, reach out to the community, learn new skills and even advance your career.
Listed below are the many benefits of volunteering and some tips on getting started on volunteering.
1. Volunteering connects you to others like you.
Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills. Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills. While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests.
2. Volunteering boosts your mind and body.
Volunteering fights depression, it reduces the risk of depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps to develop a solid support system; which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you're going through challenging times. It helps you stay physically healthy. It is good for your health at any age, but it's especially beneficial for 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 the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.
3. It helps to boost your career.
Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You are provided with a career experience, as it offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could be of benefit to your career. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.
4. Volunteering helps you feel fulfilled and content
A sense of fulfillment that you feel when you become a part of something bigger than yourself is Inexplicable. Just by lending a helping hand, you will see the level of impact you have on members of the society and the environment. This puts a smile on your face and possibly make you sleep better in the night.
What skills does one need for volunteering?
The most valuable skills you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, and a positive attitude.
Don’t know where to volunteer? Just look up for NGO’s and see whose purpose is closest to your heart. It could be women rights, children, environment or anything. Call them and get yourself associated. They would be happy to have you. Trust me.