Greek philosopher Plato once said, “Happiness springs from doing good and helping others,” and recent studies have shown that he was right. When you volunteer, you improve your health.  And if you volunteer with others, you improve your relationships.

The Fruit Guys Magazine recently published on article on studies that have shown that volunteering improves both mental and physical wellness.  Some of the benefits volunteers experience include lower mortality rates, lower rates of depression, and lower blood pressure. So what brings about these benefits?

Focusing on others instead of yourself creates more positive emotions and improves overall mental health. You can choose your “happy place,” so to speak, by volunteering your time with organizations that match your interests. When you do something you enjoy, it lowers your stress levels. While you are helping out and making a positive impact for something that provides you with personal enjoyment, it leaves less time for you to dwell on any of the negative or stressful things in your life.

Volunteering also helps you to be more physically active, and we all know that being more active helps our overall health. This is especially important for those of us who sit at work all day. We can move around and do good at the same time.  Talk about a win-win situation!

But what does volunteering have to do with building better relationships? We all have busy lives, even if we want to volunteer, how do we find the time when we have to spend time with our family, friends, loved ones? It’s simple, volunteer together. If any of you have ever joined a volunteer project from work, think of the people you met that you didn’t really know before the event, or how you may have known a co-worker in passing, but volunteering gave you the opportunity to get to know them even better. If you have ever had the chance to volunteer with friends, think about how that created a bonding moment that was different, and perhaps, more special than just going out to eat or shopping.

Parents Magazine tells us that volunteering teaches even young children about compassion, empathy, tolerance, gratitude, and community responsibility. They also learn appreciation for what they have, and that even a little contribution makes a difference. If we want children to value themselves, we must help them see that they, their time, and their talents are valuable.

Employees place a high value on organizations that will support their volunteer efforts.  So what can your organization do to help fulfill your employees’ volunteer interests?  Consider these ideas that cover an array of volunteer models:

·           Develop a fund-matching program for employee charitable donations

·           Allow employees to micro-volunteer during work hours

·           Check out GlobalGivingTime, which allows people to volunteer online using their professional skills.

·           Support a corporate-led event that supports the organization’s chosen interests and allows employees to participate

·           Provide employees paid time off for volunteering

·        ASE’s 2015/2016 Michigan Policies and Benefits Survey revealed that 88.9% of Michigan employers providing this benefit one day per year.

·           Create a payroll deduction option for a corporate charitable fund

Recently I have had the opportunity to do some volunteering in Detroit neighborhoods, and children seem to find their way to us. The project involves being a physical presence for those who want an end to violence, and to bring peace back to the city. A few weeks ago, at the end of our first week out, one of the volunteers asked the littlest children if they knew what we were doing, and one of the youngsters said no. So the volunteer asked why he came to join us, and the boy responded, “Because it feels good to be here.” Imagine, just being part of a volunteer group helped those children feel better just by being a part of something good. They also saw that there are people who care about their welfare and want good for them.

When I was out at my volunteer project last week, I found myself reflecting on how good it felt to be out with that group of people and doing something for the good of others. It truly did end up being good for all of us as well. Do something good for your health and happiness, find an organization you like that needs help, and volunteer. 

Sources:  fruitguys.com, parents.com