The health benefits of volunteering

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Welcome to Innovayogameditation.com, your ultimate destination for exploring the profound depths of Yoga, Meditation, Pilates, Wellness, Well-being and more. Today, we’re excited to discuss the benefits of volunteering, a practice that not only contributes to the community but also enhances your holistic wellbeing!

What is Volunteering?

Before we delve into the health benefits associated with volunteering, let’s clarify what volunteering actually is. In simple terms, volunteering means offering your time, energy, and skills to a cause, community, or organization without expecting monetary reward. Whether it’s tutoring children, supporting a local food bank, or participating in a neighbourhood clean-up, volunteering can range from simple, one-off activities to long-term commitments.

The Physical Health Benefits of Volunteering

• Improved Welle-being: Volunteering can boost your overall well-being. A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology revealed that people who volunteered regularly lived longer than those who didn’t. This was particularly true for volunteers who did it because they wanted to help others, not just for their personal satisfaction or wellbeing.
• Better Physical Health: Surprisingly, volunteering can have physical health benefits too! Volunteers tend to have fewer health problems and a lower chance of developing chronic conditions such as heart diseases, according to a study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior. The activity you choose for volunteering may also help promote physical health. For instance, volunteering for an eco-group to clean up neighbourhood parks means you’re constantly moving, bending, walking, and therefore exercising!

The Mental Health Benefits of Volunteering

• Reduced Stress: Volunteering is a great way to mitigate stress. According to research published in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, volunteering can prevent or reduce stress by distracting the mind from personal problems and promoting a healthier lifestyle.
• Boosted Self-esteem: There’s a significant boost to one’s self-esteem when you are able to make a difference in other people’s lives, supported by studies in the American Journal of Public Health. Feeling valued, appreciated and part of a team can help boost the volunteer’s confidence and self-esteem.

Emotional and Social Benefits of Volunteering

• Connectivity and Community Engagement: Volunteering provides an opportunity for individuals to be better connected with their local community. This can in turn help in building a positive support system, and promote a sense of belonging.
• Improves Emotional Well-being: People who volunteer regularly have been found to be happier and more satisfied with their lives. This is particularly because being altruistic — doing good for others — activates the area of the brain that’s associated with pleasure and reward, the very ‘thing’ we aim for in meditative practices like yoga and mindfulness!

In short, volunteering can be an enriching way to spend your time. Not only does it make a difference in the community, but it also enhances overall health, both physically and mentally. So, let’s get out there, volunteer, and make our world a better place – all while investing in our self-care and wellbeing!