Giving Compass' Take:

• Erin Halley at VolunteerMatch shares data from a UnitedHealthcare 2017 study that demonstrates the benefits of volunteering on adults' physical and emotional health.

• How can donors help spread awareness about the health benefits of volunteering? Are there opportunities for you to volunteer in your community? 

• Read about how helping people affects your brain. 

Volunteering can actually help you get back on track to leading a healthier life!  VolunteerMatch did a study with UnitedHealthcare in 2017, The Doing Good is Good for You Study and learned some amazing things about how volunteering positively impacts our health.

Based on the study we performed:

  • 75% of U.S. adults feel physically healthier by volunteering
  • The mental and emotional benefits of volunteering are even greater
    • 93% reporting an improved mood
    • 79% reporting lower stress levels
    • 88% reporting increased self-esteem by giving back
  • Volunteers are significantly more likely to feel they have greater control over their health and well-being
  • Almost three-fourths of employees who volunteer through work report feeling better about their employer

We also learned that 91% of the people we surveyed believe it is important for an employer to allow employees to volunteer on paid time — offering a good opportunity to bring your wellness and social impact programs together at work. Now that you know some of the benefits of volunteering, how can you maximize them? Researchers believe that a threshold exists to gain the most out of volunteering if you’d like to not only do good, but feel good.

If you don’t know where to begin, here are 5 steps to help you get started:

  1. Start with your passion.
  2. Do a bit of research.
  3. Try it on.
  4. Break it down.
  5. Access.

Read the full article about volunteering by Erin Halley at VolunteerMatch.