8 Ways to Get Healthier—While Helping Others!

This content was originally published on VolunteerMatch.

With everything happening in the world around us right now, we could all use a little ray of sunshine. As it turns out, doing good is not only great for a healthy community, it’s good for our own health, as well. Research shows that volunteering can help lift your spirits and may even make you healthier and improve longevity. Here are eight ways you can help others while bringing joy and health to your own life.

1. Foster a furry friend, reduce stress

Simply petting an animal has been shown to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. And another recent study showed that pet owners even had fewer doctor visits! Not everyone is in a position to adopt a furry life companion, but for those who are, fostering a dog, cat, or other pet in need can be a great way to enjoy these health benefits while supporting animals in need. Not ready to become a foster parent to a furbaby? Check out a variety of options for animal-related virtual volunteer opportunities.

2. Build a healthier team at work

Many of us are working from home for the first time or looking for ways to feel more connected to our colleagues as we navigate these uncertain times. Volunteering offers the opportunity to do just that and can help improve your overall work environment.

Based on a recent study VolunteerMatch conducted in partnership with UnitedHealthcare, almost three-fourths of employees who volunteer through work report feeling better about their employer. 91% of the people we surveyed believe it is important for an employer to allow employees to volunteer on paid time—offering a good opportunity to bring wellness and social impact programs together at work.

While a lot of in-person workplace volunteering has slowed down, you can still do fun team volunteer activities like virtual or safely distanced food drives to help bridge the distance between your geographic locations. Arrange for co-workers to drop off non-perishable food items outside of your house and make arrangements to have a nonprofit pick up the food or have them grab the food straight from your car in a drive-through drop-off.

3. Let your skills shine

It feels great when we use our skills and talents to help others. Interested in graphic design? Marketing? Finance?

Bring your love of teaching young students about art or yoga, or search for other opportunities to employe your unique skillset on Idealist!

4. Write for (an even longer) life!

A study from Carnegie Mellon University, published in Psychology and Aging showed that people over 50 who volunteered at least 200 hours per year decreased their likelihood of developing high blood pressure by 40%. What’s a fun way to volunteer and reap this benefit? Write! Many nonprofits need writing help on a one-time or ongoing basis. Whether you’re helping write thank you notes to donors, crafting articles and blog posts, or delivering grant writing to help raise funds, a wide range of opportunities await.

And guess what? Not only may volunteering lower your blood pressure, but it may also help you live longer overall. Analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging showed lower mortality rates among people who volunteer, even when controlling for physical health.

5. Develop the next generation of leaders

Based on the study VolunteerMatch did with UnitedHealthcare, 75% of U.S. adults feel physically healthier by volunteering. You can put your skills to good use by helping out your community and supporting leaders of tomorrow by volunteering to help a child in person within your community or virtually.

Seeing a child learn and grow is incredibly rewarding. According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, it can also delay or even reverse declining brain function in older adults. By teaching a child you will also be filling a larger need we are seeing now as many parents don’t have extended families to help them teach and nurture their child’s growth and development -- which will only be tougher with many schools going entirely online in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consider lending a hand and being a tutor to a young person today. Or, invest alongside the next generation of climate change leaders in making our environment cleaner and healthier, virtually or in person.

6. Let your hobbies be a help… AND strengthen your neural network

Learning new skills helps your memory and prevents dementia according to a study that included older participants. Participating in challenging activities will strengthen entire networks in the brain. This is done through “strengthening connections in between parts of your brain", explains cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman. Consider picking up a new hobby like quilting, sewing, gardening, cooking, or photography, while making a difference in your community. You can also unleash your hobbies to support people with disabilities virtually or in person and help arts and culture causes virtually or in person.

7. Start something good, add purpose to your life

Whether you are retired, looking for work, have extra time, or are just ready to give back - volunteering can add more purpose to your life at any age. One study of older adults in particular showed that volunteering provided a sense of purpose for those who had experienced the loss of major role identities, such as wage-earner and parent. So make giving back a part of your life and start something good today.

Need some new ideas? Consider lending a sympathetic ear, starting a clothing drive, or sewing masks. If you still don’t know where to begin, start with the causes you are most passionate about. 

8. Make volunteering a habit and feel happier

Researchers believe a threshold exists to gain the most out of volunteering if you’d like to do good and feel good in the process.

Based on a few studies, two key things can help you do just that:

• Volunteer with 2 or more organizations
• Spend 40 hours to 100 hours per year volunteering

From a UnitedHealthcare study, we know that 93% reported an improved mood and 88% reported increased self-esteem by giving back. And, another recent study from the Journal of Happiness Studies shows that volunteering makes people happier. Those who had volunteered in the past year had higher levels of satisfaction in their lives and had rated their health overall as better when compared to those who didn’t volunteer. And, people who volunteered a minimum of once a month reported better mental health compared to those that volunteered occasionally, or not at all. According to the Journal of Happiness Study, people who began to volunteer became happier over time. Make volunteering a regular part of your month, and you’ll be well on your way to a happier, more fulfilling life!