We all know that volunteering can help make our communities stronger…but did you know that it can also make you happier? It’s true! When you give your time, you get so much in return.
Research has shown that when you volunteer, you feel better and remain healthier. Studies have found that compared to non-volunteers, those that volunteer are:
Happier
Physically healthier
Less depressed
Live longer
United Health Care’s Doing Good is Good for You: 2013 Health and Volunteering Study showed us that not only does volunteering make you feel better physically, but also lowers stress levels and increases sense of purpose, as demonstrated in their infographic. Helping others through volunteering also provides the same feel good effect you get after a great exercise session. Whether you are helping out or working out, your body releases dopamine, which causes that ‘runners high’ or…’helpers high’, leading to that sense of happiness. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.
If you are an older volunteer, you reap even greater benefits! Volunteering later in life has been found to decrease depression and social isolation, and can provide a feeling of personal accomplishment and a sense of purpose. It can also help older volunteers to stay mentally active, as well as delay-or even reverse-declining brain function, as found in a recent John Hopkins study. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and purpose 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.
If all that weren’t enough to get you out making your community and yourself stronger, the farm families who own Cabot Creamery Cooperative, along with Points of Light, National Cooperative Bank and Create the Good, want to promote volunteerism in your community. We’ve created Reward Volunteers, a free, easy way to track the time you spend volunteering in your community and to earn rewards for your contributions. We have amazing prize sponsors like Ben & Jerry’s, Kind Snacks, Dansko, Seventh Generation and much more. You can also win a monthly cash prize for your non-profit organization.
With Reward Volunteers, you and your organization can support volunteer efforts, inspire friends to get involved, and bring well-earned recognition to hard working volunteers throughout the U.S. It is a winning solution for volunteers everywhere.
If you would like to learn more about Cabot Creamery Cooperative, get more delicious recipes, or take a virtual tour of our 1,200 farm families, click here.
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Cabot Creamery Cooperative is owned by 1,200 dairy farm families in New York and New England, crafting award-winning cheese and dairy products, and a guest blogger for GiveGab.
