“Wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him.” Albert Schweitzer
Making the decision to give your time to those who can benefit from your work or expertise will help not only those in need, but can be beneficial to your own health as well. There have been several studies completed throughout the years which prove time and again that performing acts of charity is beneficial to an individuals’ health.
Those who donate their time to charities whether physically, such as helping to build houses, or mentally such as teaching classes on how to use a computer, will experience health benefits such as lower blood pressure, less instances of depression, and even a longer life span. One of the interesting aspects of the studies performed by researchers, which was published in Health Psychology is that the person must enter into the charitable work with the right intention; if a person decides to volunteer specifically to experience health benefits they will usually experience less benefits than one who enters into the charity for altruistic reasons.
Providing charitable works to others will also help a person to experience personal growth. One who volunteers will come in contact with many other types of individuals from various backgrounds. The individual will have to learn to work with others and collaborate on projects, learn empathy for those who find themselves in difficult situations, and learn how to be open and giving of yourself to others in need. This is why teaching children to give of themselves through charitable works is so important; they will learn many of the skills they will need in life from this type of experience such as loyalty, empathy, and teamwork.
Donating time to a charity will cause a person to get out of their house more often, breathing fresh air and getting some vitamin D from the sunshine. Charitable work also makes a person interact with others, and in some cases will involve physical labor; all of these things help to alleviate depression and just plain old boredom. The increased physical labor will help with keeping weight under control and keep a person’s bones strong.
Keep in mind that “formal” volunteering is quite different from just helping out a neighbor. When a person makes a formal obligation to volunteer they immediately have a group of people who have come together for the same goals, with specific tasks involved. Volunteering for a neighbor can be very random and could become quite stressful under certain conditions.
Deciding to volunteer your time and efforts to a needy cause is one of the greatest things a person can do to help their community, their country, and as studies have proven even benefit their own health. There are websites available which can match your charitable interests with volunteer opportunities around the globe. There are even some volunteering opportunities available in other countries if a person has the time and funds to travel.
