Volunteer for Happiness

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

Why volunteer?
Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. Volunteering and helping others can help you reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help others those in need and improve your health and happiness.

Benefits of Volunteering Include:

1. Volunteering connects you to others, creating new friendships and increasing social skills.
2. Volunteering is good for your mind and body, combating depression, boredom, and increasing happiness as well as keeping your physically active in the community.
3. Volunteering can advance your career, teaching you valuable skills and increasing career experience.
4. Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment into your life, choose something you are passionate about and the rest will fall into place.

HealthStart offers a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Contact Outreach Coordinator, Erin Damm, for more information.

Original Article: Volunteering and it's Surprising Benefits