How Staying Busy With Volunteering Is Good for You PacificSource
go to original July 14, 2022

Why Be a Volunteer? (Family and Community Services NSW)

Whether you’ve been donating your time for years or you’re just dipping your toe in the water, there are a host of benefits to be gained from volunteering.

If you’ve never volunteered (or it’s been a while), here are some great reasons to give it a try, plus tips to get you started.

Volunteering can be a fun way to:

Get Your Body Moving: Choose opportunities that involve physical activity (things like gardening, working with children, or picking up litter), and you’ll reap cardio and strength-building benefits while skipping a trip to the gym.

Sharpen Your Mind: “Use it or lose it,” they say, so do knowledge work (such as mentoring young people) and you’ll employ cognitive skills that would otherwise sit idle.

Gain a Sense of Purpose: No matter your age or life situation, volunteering can take your mind off your worries and connect you with others in your community. Feelings of isolation and lonliness can melt away when your social circle opens up to more people.

Boost Your Self-Esteem: The sense of accomplishment you earn from helping others can give you a healthy dose of confidence. Many volunteers report getting significant satisfaction from the contributions they make.

Use Your Gifts: Do you have a talent you can share? Maybe it’s something you take for granted. But those basic guitar chords could be just the thing that sparks a teen’s musical awakening. Art, business, science - there are many areas where expertise can be put to use.

Ready to dive in? Opportunities to volunteer are all around you. If you’re wondering where to start, here are some topics to try:

  • Community Services
  • Environmental
  • Animals & Wildlife
  • Health Care
  • Youth & Family
  • Education & Awareness
  • Culture & Recreation
  • Special Interests