Contrary to what cynics may think, there is no lack of good people around. In every community, you’re bound to find people who are willing to help, people who dedicate their time for different types of charities and causes. But why are they doing this? What benefits are they getting?
Volunteer comes from the French word volontaire, which means “free will,” hence, a volunteer does not expect payment for work or services rendered but can still enjoy personal and health benefits, including:
- Learning Something New
- Meeting New Friends
- Building Your Confidence and Self-Esteem
- Tax Deduction Privilege
In a national survey conducted in Canada, volunteers shared that they learned different skills like being able to understand and motivate other people better, developed better communication skills like public speaking and writing, and increased their knowledge of different issues such as politics, health and the environment.
Volunteering keeps you busy, allowing your brain to stay active because of all the new things you’re experiencing and thus, may help lower your risk of neurological diseases. A seven-year study of 1,800 older adults done by a neuropsychologist from Columbia University showed that people with more "leisure pursuits" had lower risks of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Volunteer work allows you to work with different people who share the same interest with you. This is a great opportunity to start friendships.
Volunteers require a lot of responsibility and leadership. Leading others and doing your tasks is not easy but after you overcome the challenges, you will definitely have more self confidence and self-esteem.
Expenses associated with volunteering like travel costs, convention attendance fees, etc. are usually tax deductable.
These are just some of the things you can gain if you decide to do volunteer work. Being a volunteer may not help you get rich financially and your efforts may often go unrecognized but that’s exactly the point because volunteering means putting others above yourself.