5 Surprising Health Benefits of Volunteering

As we get older, staying active and feeling connected can get harder. But there’s one simple way to boost your health and happiness, volunteering. 

Helping others is a gift to your community, but it’s also a gift to yourself. Here are five ways volunteering can improve your health. 

1. Volunteering gives you a purpose 

After retirement, some people feel unsure about how to spend their time. Volunteering gives your day structure and meaning. Knowing that others count on you can bring a strong sense of purpose. That feeling can improve your mental health and help you stay motivated. 

2. Volunteering lowers stress and lifts your mood 

Doing something kind for someone else makes you feel good, too. Studies show that volunteering can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and even ease feelings of anxiety or sadness. Helping others takes the focus off your own worries and boosts your mood. 

3. You move more without even thinking about it 

Many volunteer jobs include light physical activity, like setting up chairs, sorting donations, or walking around greeting visitors. Staying active in small ways helps your heart, muscles, and joints. It can also improve your balance and energy levels. 

4. Volunteering helps you stay social 

Volunteering brings people together. Whether you’re helping at the library, hospital, or animal shelter, you’ll meet new people and feel part of something. Social interaction is important as we age. It helps keep your brain sharp and lowers the risk of depression. Your time spent volunteering may bring additional benefits to the recipients, often by offering social interaction that they may otherwise be lacking. 

5. You’ll feel more connected to your community 

When you volunteer, you’re making your town a better place. You get to know local programs and the people behind them. That sense of connection can bring joy and pride. It also helps you stay in touch with what’s going on around you. 

It’s easy to get started 
You don’t need special skills to be a volunteer, just a little time and a big heart. Local senior centers, libraries, hospitals, and schools are great places to start. First choose something you enjoy and feel comfortable doing. Then visit local places that may need help or visit a volunteer matching site.  

 
Volunteering is a simple, powerful way to feel good, inside and out. Whether it’s one hour a week or more, giving back can keep you feeling strong, social, and supported. 

Elliot Senior Health Center is here to help you stay active and healthy. 

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Dr. Masooma Athar is board-certified in internal and geriatric medicine. She is in practice at Elliot Senior Health Primary Care in Manchester, New Hampshire.