Everyone Can Gain From Volunteering.

Volunteering our time to help a good cause or person shouldn’t need justifying beyond being a decent thing to do. But in the busy world we live in, free time is precious and it’s understandable if we’re reluctant to give it up. It can help to meditate on how volunteering can enrich our own lives, to make investing our free time in it seem like a sensible option, rather than a sacrifice. There’s no shame in taking motivation from wherever it can be found.

Here are just some of the ways we can improve ourselves while giving back.

Good for your career.

Anyone who’s taken a career break to volunteer can probably confirm that volunteering can give you a career boost. We don’t just have to volunteer doing something we’re already good at. If we want the chance to train for something different or gain a new skill, volunteering can be the way forward.

Not only does this benefit employers, since they’re adding new skills to the pool, but if you’re hunting for your next job it’s a way to flesh out your resume and gain impactful stories for the interview.

Depending on the role, volunteering can also provide soft skills that we can apply in our personal lives, too, like communication, empathy, and discretion.

Good for your health.

Aside from getting us out and about, volunteering appears to have multiple health benefits. It’s thought that the feeling of appreciation gained from altruistic actions is enough to start building self-esteem and could help fight depression. Deviating from your usual routine to go volunteering keeps your brain on its toes; as we get older that could help keep dementia at bay for longer.

Not only that, but it has positive effects on physical health too. Volunteers might have lower cholesterol, which could be down to the stress-relieving effects, and are more likely to take care of their own health. Plus, it’s an opportunity to get active, especially for those of us who sit behind a desk all day, by taking roles that involve moving about.

Good for travelling.

Those of us with the travel bug appreciate an excuse for a journey somewhere. Volunteering can be that excuse. Although a volunteering trip abroad can be more expensive than your average budget holiday, with a bit of savviness (and maybe some fundraising) it doesn’t have to break the bank.

Travelling itself has many benefits and it’s an opportunity to use language skills, reignite a passion for photography, or just have a change of scenery. Throw into that a volunteering project as well, and we undoubtedly have an exciting experience waiting.

Good for friendships.

As something away from the daily routine, volunteering locally or abroad can be a fantastic way to meet new people. There might be many differences between myself and the people I’m volunteering with but there’s always going to be a shared interest there: volunteering. If it’s conservation work, we could have a shared passion for the environment. A nursing placement, there’s a mutual interest in healthcare. So, volunteering can easily become a situation where you meet plenty of likeminded people, who become fast friends.

Volunteering can be good for existing friendships too. Going volunteering with a friend can mean we get to see them in a different light, share experiences together, and learn from each other. Plus, having a friend can make it easier to settle into your volunteering role, and you can support each other through any difficulties.

Good for productivity.

I’d just like to hark back to what I said at the beginning about our free time being precious. Of course, taking time for yourself to relax, to be alone, is very important for wellbeing. There will also be times when we just have nothing to do specifically, and it’s that time that we can turn into productivity through volunteering.

If we can identify these opportunities in our day, we can use the time in a constructive way. That can turn over benefits like better sleep from wearing yourself out, a feeling of achievement, and a dopamine boost from contributing to the world in a positive way.

Good for the world.

It probably goes without saying that donating your time, skills, and experience to a community, project, or person in need, does the world some good. It’s not just that the act of volunteering helps someone, it’s that it has a knock-on effect. Generally speaking, people want to do what everyone else is doing. The more people give a few hours a week to a local charity, or take a volunteer trip abroad once a year, the more people will start doing it. And a little bit more giving in the world certainly can’t be a bad thing.

About the author:

Katie Blackbourne is studying to be a journalist but thinks her real calling may be with fiction. Sometimes total strangers stop her in the street to tell her their darkest secrets (maybe that’s her superpower). She also has a passion for affordable volunteering and travel (adventures should be accessible!) and recommends Workaway, HelpX, VSO, and Original Volunteers. She lives in the UK, and having visited 7 countries so far next on the travel bucket list is Brazil!

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