Can Volunteering Benefit Your Health? Explore the Mental and Physical Rewards

Health Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering is usually considered good for your soul, but research shows that it can be good for your health, too. Explore some of the top health benefits of volunteering and get inspired to give back. We even included volunteering ideas you can do from your very own home!

Supports a Healthy Stress Response

Although volunteering won’t make your everyday stressors disappear, research indicates volunteering may help keep some of the negative effects of stress at bay. In a 2019 study, researchers found that on days when individuals volunteered, they were less negatively  affected by daily stressors than individuals who had not volunteered.¹ Furthermore, volunteering has been shown to reduce salivary cortisol, (commonly known as the “stress hormone”), in middle-aged and older adults, suggesting a physiological mechanism for the beneficial effect of volunteering on the stress response.²

READ MORE: 5 Ways To Help Relieve Your Stress

Supports Working Memory & Cognitive Functioning

Social and physical activity is often associated with cognitive benefits. Volunteering provides social, physical, and mental stimulation when performed over time. Formal volunteering through groups, clubs and organizations has been shown to support working memory and mental processing in adults 51 and older, and is associated with lower rates of self-reported cognitive complaints.^3,4

Supports Healthy Blood Pressure

Some research shows that high rates of volunteerism (at least 200 hours a year or approximately 4 hours per week) may help support cardiovascular health. In one study of adults over age 50, individuals who volunteered about 4 hours per week on an ongoing basis were able to maintain a healthier blood pressure compared to those who did not volunteer.⁵

Strengthens a Sense of Community

Volunteering allows you to meet people who share your passions. By regularly volunteering, you can grow deep friendships and enhance your social support network. Strengthening your relationships can have a positive impact on your health and helping others through volunteering has been linked to improved social well-being.⁶

Supports Mental Health

Regular volunteering focused on helping others is also associated with improved mental health.  This type of volunteering has been shown to promote greater life satisfaction, and benefit mental as well as physical health.⁷

How To Volunteer From Home

Thanks to new technology and the rise of virtual events, you may be able to give back without leaving your home. Just be aware that volunteering from home may not give you the same benefits as in-person settings. To get started, research a few causes you feel passionate about to find some volunteer opportunities. Once you’ve found an organization you’d like to support, contact them to see how you can help and if you can get involved virtually. For example, you may be able to:

• Coordinate a virtual fundraiser
• Pack donation bags
• Use your crafting skills to create items like blankets, pillowcases, or masks
• Volunteer for a crisis hotline

Healthy living is more than eating right and exercising. From supporting your health to growing your support network, volunteering offers numerous health benefits and can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle. For more ideas on how to live a well-balanced life, take our free personal wellness assessment.