Maximize Your Free Time: The Benefits of Volunteering

Link to Article: https://capital-placement.com/blog/voluntary-work/

The hard slog of exams has finally come to an end and summer is upon you – time to kick back and relax, catch up with your loved ones and soak in the stress-free period. A couple of months go by, you’ve run out of Netflix series to binge on, you’re bored of your favourite snacks, and you start to twiddle your thumbs… the honeymoon of summer is over, and it’s time to reflect. “Could I have used this time better?”

The simple answer is yes, and the solution is even more simple – you could have been doing voluntary work instead.

Volunteering is when people work on projects that aim to help make the world a better place. These can be projects that specifically help improve lives, our surroundings, or the future of our planet, some common examples of this are:

• Running educational workshops

• Beach clean-ups

• Helping out at homeless shelters

Associated with acts of kindness and selflessness, volunteers dedicate their free time to being involved in such projects that help make an impact. But there’s a catch, voluntary work is often unpaid work, so the project relies heavily on the generosity of others to make ideas become a successful reality.

But don’t let the unpaid persona of voluntary work steer you clear of it. There are many benefits of volunteering that are sure to help you get to where you want to be later in life.

So why volunteer? The benefits of volunteering are endless, but the main benefits to you personally, from getting involved in voluntary work, are; that it improves your mental health and wellbeing, gives you a sense of pride, and can lead to new friendships and opportunities. Studies have shown that those who engage in volunteering are provided with a sense of purpose and achievement, which is a great way to combat depression and maintain mental stability.

Much more appealing than the repercussions of your Netflix binge, right?

But volunteering doesn’t just have to be a summer commitment. Many people choose to fit voluntary work around their daily lives. It adds a lifelong direction, structure, and interest to your life, helping improve your confidence and self-esteem amongst many other things.

That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised if you work alongside a volunteer who is twice or three times your age. Many people make volunteering a way of life, and it’s not just because of the personal benefits. It can help you professionally too.