Benefits of volunteering

Salam and happy midweek to everyone! Two more days to Sg votes 2020! While some of us will be on official duty, others will be volunteering to make sure everything goes smoothly... But do you know that volunteering is also a social medicine? Here are 3 reasons why: 1) Volunteering helps you live longer and healthier. An analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging found that individuals who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not, even when controlling for age, gender and physical health. This is especially so for those age 60 and over. Other studies have shown that volunteers with disabilities, chronic or serious illnesses like diabetes, digestive disorders, all experience declines in pain intensity and depression. One reason is the hormone oxytocin produced in your brain (the pituitary gland). You release more oxytocin when you engage in social activity. Oxytocin helps protect against cardiovascular illness. The heart has receptors specific to oxytocin, which helps heart cells regenerate after stress-related damage. Helping others heals your heart, literally! ❤ 2) Volunteering makes you happier. Research has shown that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression, especially for individuals 65 and older. Retirees and those who have lost a spouse can benefit from a renewed purpose in life. Volunteer work that is meaningful can be relaxing, induce creativity, motivation and positivity which carries over into your personal life and work. Volunteering helps you connect with your community, identify their issues, needs and resources to help. You also develop a support system important in combating feelings of isolation and depression. Volunteering as a family helps you bond closer to your partner. You demonstrate to your kids that even a small task can make a big difference to other people, animals the Earth! This is how we make change happen. 3) Volunteering helps with work and career. Teamwork, communicating, problem solving, public speaking, marketing, project planning and task management all help with developing social, relationship and leadership skills. The exposure to professional organizations or internships can expand your business network. The training and experience with an organisation can provide you with opportunities to consider or try out a new career without making a full term commitment. Is volunteering for me? Organisations not only need help with manpower and events, but also tasks that enable you to work from home. Examples include engagement with social media, graphic design, blogging, emails etc. So, identify your goals, what you'd enjoy doing and your level of commitment. Most importantly, do you have passion, positivity and a can do attitude? Well then, you're good to go! 👍😍 Ride of Hope welcomes volunteers and partners who can support our initiatives together. Contact us at www.rideofhopesg.com Take care guys and have a great week! #rideofhopesg #rideofhopebikerchix