Why Volunteering Can Be So Good for Our Health
After retiring from his job as a teacher, Jeff Kellert began volunteering as a tutor and helped at his synagogue.
Later, he volunteered with the National Mental Health Alliance, an organization for the family members of people with mental health issues.
Altogether, the 71-year-old volunteers for about 30 hours a month. The experience keeps him active, but just as important, he said, it has led to new friendships and a sense of purpose he never expected after retiring.
Volunteering may also help him live longer, providing what various studies have shown are a variety of health and psychological benefits.
Jacquelyn Stephens, a developmental-health psychologist, said volunteering would be good even if it didn't have so many benefits.
"But it just so happens that it does, and especially for older adults," she said.
Eric S. Kim, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia Vancouver, said his research has found a connection between volunteering and more positive emotions, less loneliness and more social support.
It's not just older adults who benefit, though they are the most-studied group. There are indications that volunteering helps high school students too.
Stephens noted that some types of volunteer opportunities, like loading boxes at a food bank, include physical activity. But the work doesn't have to be physical to be beneficial, she said.
The only risk, she said, is not to do too much — volunteering shouldn't be stressful.
She added that anyone interested in volunteering should begin by reaching out to their social network to learn about opportunities that others have enjoyed.
Kellert recommended simply searching online for "volunteer opportunities in my town."
