Have you considered adding a healthy dose of volunteerism in your life? Research shows that those who give back to their community and make positive differences in people’s lives reap a variety of health and wellness benefits, ranging from decreased daily stress to an increased life expectancy.
Here are just some of the ways volunteering gives back to volunteers:
A Sense of Purpose. Volunteerism is good for the heart — both figuratively and literally — and is linked to providing people with an enriched sense of purpose in life, according to Harvard University. “We know that stress, depression and anger all have negative effects on the body, especially with regard to the risk of cardiovascular disease,” says Eric S. Kim, research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “The opposite emotions and mindsets — satisfaction and optimism — are closely linked to, but not necessarily synonymous with a sense of purpose.”
Stress Reduction. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found volunteering to be helpful with respect to stress reduction, and highlighted the strong relationship between lower stress levels and key health outcomes. Other advantages outlined in the report include increased feelings of well-being and the uplifting emotion commonly referred to as “the helper’s high,” which contributes to improved wellbeing and happiness.
Increased Longevity. Students from the University of Exeter, a public research university in England, analyzed data from 40 published papers and discovered evidence suggesting that volunteers have a 20 percent lower risk of death than non-volunteers. Additionally, a national survey of 3,351 adults conducted by United Health Group found that 76 percent of people who volunteered in the past 12 months reported feeling healthier as a result.
Social Connectedness. Volunteering can help you build friendly alliances within your community and widen your social circle, as well as drive positive feelings like camaraderie and connection, which both improve overall well-being.
Want to get involved? There are a wide variety of meaningful opportunities available through BCHD. Visit bchd.org/volunteer or call (310) 374-3426 to learn more.
