Volunteering is very important in our life because it fills our Social Pillar of Health.
In a 2008 study from the London School of Economics, they found a relationship between volunteering and happiness. The study showed that the more people volunteered in their community the happier they were.
- Volunteering in the community gives us a sense of purpose. We volunteer without compensation because it gives us a connection to other people.
- We forget our problems when we volunteer. Volunteering gives us another perspective. Volunteering removes negative thoughts. We are able to see that our life problems are more of an inconvenience rather than a problem.
- Volunteering makes us competitive in our professional careers. We are able to use our organizational skills, planning, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. It also helps us make connections for possible future professional collaboration.
- Volunteering boosts our physical health because as we share our time in skills, we feel more relaxed and happy which results in lower blood pressure and positive outcomes in life. Research shows that those people who volunteer all the time had a 63% lower mortality rate the non-volunteers. Another research showed that those adults over 50 years old who volunteered regularly are less likely to develop high blood pressure.
- Volunteering boosts self-esteem. It gives us a sense of accomplishment. We have pride in volunteering. Being altruistic boosts our self-confidence increases because it takes you out of your comfort zone when you volunteer. This results in a growth mindset. One feels better after volunteering and you have a better outlook on life.
- Volunteering alleviates depression and anxiety due to the increased social contact. Volunteering improves psychological well-being. Volunteering increases or feel-good hormones that improve our mood reduces anxiety and stress.