Want to Improve Your Life Satisfaction?
Forbes Health found that, volunteering can be a meaningful opportunity for people of any age, but especially for those later in life. In fact, the more people volunteer, the more their life satisfaction increases.
There are a number of reasons to consider volunteering, including increasing your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Forbes says, a 2020 data review in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine observed almost 13,000 participants of the Health and Retirement Study and found if someone volunteered for at least 100 hours per year (less than two hours a week) for four years, they experienced:
- Reduced risk of mortality
- Reduced risk of physical functioning limitations
- Increased amounts of physical activity
- Better psychosocial outcomes, such as increased optimism or a stronger sense of purpose in life.
Read the Forbes article, “11 Meaningful Way Older Adults Can Volunteer Right Now” and see more highlights below to discover how volunteering improves your life satisfaction.
“As more people retire, there’s a void of skills and expertise based on a lifetime of experience. This collective knowledge needs to be harnessed to add value to the economy and to foster productivity in organizations and build better communities for us all,” says Dan Levitt, a gerontologist based in Vancouver. “What you do for others tells others what is important to you and how you make a difference in their lives. People who are engaged in their communities at older ages live longer and remain healthier physically and mentally,” he adds.
Regardless of which path you choose, volunteering is a versatile opportunity that can help you expand upon your existing interests and passions. It could also be a way for you to explore new hobbies and skills you may enjoy.
Continue your career through volunteering, and you’ll continue to have that sense of professional identity that can continue even without getting a paid job, according Marcia Wall, Career Success Coach and Mental Health Support Specialist
If you’re interested in volunteering, there’s no better day than today to begin your search.
