Here's Why Volunteering is Good for Everyone

[Shadowhunter]

Are you hesitant to become a volunteer in your community? Don't see the point? Think one person can't make a difference? Think again!

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Here are a bunch of reasons why volunteering is a lot more awesome than you thought, and how you benefit from it too!

1. Stress relief. Volunteering helps control and manage your stress levels.
2. Health benefits. Volunteering combats negative aspects of mental health, such as depression, and acts of selflessness are popularly known for positively affecting emotional health. Great emotional and mental health are natural immune boosters and engaging in positive activities may increase your body's natural feel good hormones, such as endorphins, so your happiness levels increase as well. Many forms of volunteer work can help keep you physically fit, too.
3. Boosts your CV. Volunteering in areas you are interested in academically or professionally may increase your chances for being selected in your desired fields by showing added interest and experience in the respective areas, as well as enhancing your current skills and encouraging development of new skills.
4. Lets you shop around. Do you like so many things that you're not sure what to focus on? Or are you the opposite: have you yet to find an area that arouses your passion? Volunteering is a cheap, mutually beneficial way to check out different areas and see first-hand what you're interested in. This can be quite beneficial whether you're figuring out what to study or looking for a career change.
5. Connect with others. Whether you're looking to enhance your networking skills and contacts, or just interested in making new friends and connecting to others on a deeper level, volunteering can help. Don't forget the new experiences and deeper understanding of different situations and perspectives!
6. Help your community. Volunteering saves money on labor so more people can be assisted and makes you a key part in your community's growth. Your input and actions can have real effects as your engagements teach you more about your community and the ways you can help. You can also develop relationships with people in your community as well and get to know and understand people you may not normally meet.
7. Be constructive. Have some free time on your hands you want to fill with fulfilling activities? Looking to renew your sense of purpose or fuel your drive? Volunteering is a great way to start expressing yourself productively and in a positively constructive way.
8. Feel better about yourself. Hand in hand with positively affecting emotional and mental health, volunteering can help improve your mood, self-esteem, self-confidence, and outlook on life thus making you feel better about yourself and others. This can lead to healthier levels of independence, richer interpersonal relationships, and overall satisfaction with life. What better way to restore your hope and faith not only in humanity, but in yourself as well?
9. Make a difference. Every little bit helps. An action that may seem small or insignificant to you can positively impact someone else for the rest of their life. Not only does volunteering reach out to help others and benefit us all in the ways listed above (just for starters), but it can leave lasting impressions that influence others and change the course of lives without you ever knowing.

 

[grimreaper009]

i think its good to volunteer as it always good to give back and help others in what little way you can and as you said, its refreshing knowing you've done something good which in turn will benefit everyone

 

[Shadowhunter]

Yup I think it should be mandatory in schools to give youths a head start into being involved. It was a mandatory graduation requirement in one of my schools and the experiences I got were priceless in comparison to educational courses and paid employment. It helps you connect with people on different levels and form new relationships and develop new or deeper passions too.

 

[LadyDeath]

Volunteering is great, especially humanitarian or environmental work. Young adults need these experiences in life and it generally evokes a peaceful feeling to know that you are a part of something greater, a collective group.

You also form relationships with others or a strong bond with what volunteer work that you are doing. I think it is needed in schools but at a lower form like 2-3.