When you do good, do you then feel good? Or do you feel good and then do good? Volunteers can experience both.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.”
M.K. Gandhi
No matter what stage of life you are in, volunteering has benefits that have been tested and researched by many. Researchers at the University of Michigan studied a group of adult men and found that those who volunteered their time, skills, and money were happier, more positive about their lives, and outlived their peers who weren’t so altruistic. As we give of ourselves, we often receive more than we give. We find ourselves enjoying a more positive attitude along with greater feelings of satisfaction. Many have reported re-experiencing the same positive feelings by just recalling and reminiscing about their volunteer experiences.
When we do good, everyone wins. Sonya Lyubomirsky, researcher, Professor of Psychology at the University of California–Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness has found that helping others may build more appreciation for our communities and neighborhoods. Service to others also creates feelings of appreciation and gratitude for what we have when we see those less fortunate than we are. We also have the opportunity to model for our peers as well as our adult children and grandchildren the art of volunteering.
If you have transitioned from work and begun volunteering, you may have found that this experience provides some of the same benefits that work provided. People say that they derive meaning and purpose from activities that help others live better lives. Volunteering gives structure to your day and gives you an opportunity to connect socially with other volunteers as well as those you are helping. Altruism can be very gratifying and helps make the world a better place.
By assessing your skills, strengths, interests, and passions, you may find a volunteer organization that is a good fit for you. Decide if you want to volunteer for a large or small organization, how involved you want to be, and how long you want to commit. Volunteering can also help you discover a new career path during your retirement transition. Many have turned volunteering into paid work or created a nonprofit business from their volunteer experience.
Where Do You Want To Put Your Energy?
When choosing where, when, and how you want to volunteer, take into consideration the following suggestions:
1. Do what you feel
• Passionate about
• Gives meaning to your life
• Can become part of your legacy
• Matches your values (read “How to use values-based decision-making”)
2. Explore your current skills and think about learning new skills if necessary
3. Find one volunteer activity that you can do with your life partner to make your relationship more interesting as well as create more social contacts
4. Be open to a volunteer activity becoming a paying position if the opportunity arises
5. If you have physical limitations or are remaining safe during COVID, consider volunteering online by exploring www.pointoflight.org or Volunteermatch.org
6. Explore the following websites to give you more ideas:
• Volunteermatch.org
• Aarp.org/experience-corps
• Handsonnetwork.com
• Encore.org
• Volunteer.gov
• Operationhope.org
• Boardnetusa.org
• Onlinevolunteering.org
• Idealist.org
As you can see, there are many opportunities to volunteer in a variety of areas. Be open to all possibilities and enjoy giving back. Unexpected and anticipated gifts will come back to you.
Remember, giving of yourself to those in need will help you make the best of your life for the rest of your life. Where will you choose to do good, feel good?