Self-Care: Volunteering

By helping others, you can truly help yourself. Volunteering is an unexpected way to care for yourself. It’s definitely another tool we can use to help maintain our healthy weight. And it’s one with a far reaching positive impact.

Here are some of the benefits of volunteering:

• It reduces stress (1).
• It helps with depression (1).
• It may decrease the risk of hypertension, which is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke (2).
• It can help with weight loss, particularly if your volunteer work gets you moving (3).
• It provides exercise, but without the conscious effort that normally accompanies rigorous activity (4).
• This increased exercise results in greater fitness, which can make other physical work easier for the volunteer (4).

How might you find the right volunteer project for your needs, while serving others? One excellent website which I’ve used is Volunteer Match: https://www.volunteermatch.org/ There are likely others that might have opportunities where you live.

Brainstorm about how you can give back in your community. What are your interests? When might you be able to help? What is something you’d love to do, but you have never had the opportunity to try? Do you have a hobby or talent that you can teach or share with others?

Before you commit, you may have some questions that the organization can answer so that you’ll know if it’s a good fit:

1) What is the organization’s mission?

2) What time commitment are you looking for?

3) What specific duties will I be handling?

4) Who will manage me?

5) How will I get feedback on my work?

Finally, ask to speak with other volunteers to get a sense of how your time will be spent (4).

Does this spark any ideas on how volunteering can help with your weight maintenance journey? By helping to support our communities, we can also get the support we need to improve our well-being. Give it a try!

(1). The Complete Guide to Self Care by Kiki Ely (c) 2020.

(2). https://thinkhealth.priorityhealth.com/benefits-of-volunteering-its-good-for-your-health/

(3). https://www.unitedway.org/blog/this-year-resolve-to-help-yourself-by-helping-others#

(4). https://www.prevention.com/life/a20464681/how-volunteering-helps-your-brain/