The Gift of Giving Back – How Volunteering Can Be Good For YOU!
Volunteering can sometimes be viewed as an entirely selfless act, with the assumption that you’re sacrificing your time and resources to help others, without any benefit to yourself. But this is so far from the truth. Not only does volunteering help others, but giving back to something bigger than yourself feels awesome (and this feeling has been backed by science)!
Still not sure how volunteering can be a personal benefit to you? Here are five reasons to consider volunteering.
Connects you to others
Volunteering is a great and interesting way to meet people who you might not normally connect with: people from different age groups, ethnicities or social groups. Because volunteering is open to everyone, it allows you to meet a wide variety of people from all sorts of walks of life. In fact, one of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together, and volunteering lets you do just that!
Good for your mind and body
According to a study published in the 2020 Journal of Happiness Studies, people who had volunteered over the course of the study period reported a more positive sense of wellbeing than those who did not. Spending meaningful time with others can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that helping others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel.
Brings fun and fulfillment into your life
Volunteering is a fun way to explore your interests and passions. When doing volunteer work, you find meaningful and enjoyable it can be an escape and circuit breaker from your day-to-day routine. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity and motivation that can carry over into your personal and professional life.
Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance, one of our Pyjama Angels works a corporate job, however felt she had so much love to give and offer a young person. For her, volunteering at The Pyjama Foundation aligned perfectly.
Gain a sense of purpose and become happier
For many people who are stuck in their same routines or older adults, especially those that have retired, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated and add more zest to your life.
Volunteering provides better job prospects
Volunteer work counts as professional experience. You may have been eyeing a specific job role, but don’t necessarily have the skills and experience to do the job. If you’re not sure what you should do after you complete a course, becoming a volunteer is the perfect opportunity to get a good feel of your interests and it will also help build experience. It also highlights your enthusiasm for taking the time to actively work and gain the skills related to your desired profession.
So, where to from here?
If your think volunteering could be the right next step and you want to make a difference to the lives of children in care, becoming a Pyjama Angel could be the perfect position for you. To find out more about how to become a Pyjama Angel, please visit this page.
