4 Ways Volunteering Makes Our Lives Better

Forget Resveratrol, antidepressants, vitamins and psychotherapy. The cure-all wonder drug seems to be "just volunteer."

The good effects of volunteering just keep showing up. For instance, recently there have been reports that volunteers enjoy:

• A lower risk of high blood pressure. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon found that older people who volunteered at least 200 hours a year seemed to enjoy a 40 percent lower risk of high blood pressure. That means your doctor might soon be prescribing 3-4 hours per week of volunteer work for your hypertension rather than a beta-blocker. Volunteering, it turns out, is a longevity pill for older people.
• An improved employment outlook. The Corporation for National and Community Service, in a report released recently, said that a federal study found that unemployed Americans improve their odds of finding a job by 27 percent if they volunteer. The effect was greatest for people who lack a high school diploma and the unemployed who live in rural areas. It improves skills and provides exposure to new job opportunities. Good news for both the long-term unemployed and charities that might have overlooked a potential source of volunteers.
• More happiness at work. Realized Worth, a company that specializes in corporate giving and volunteering, recently wrote about what giving employees an opportunity to volunteer does for the general happiness of the workforce. Drawing on material from Adam Grant's new book, "Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success," Realized Worth says that when employees volunteer, they become more productive, more ethical, grateful to their employers, and proud of where they work.
• Better teenage years. ABC reported that one in four teens nationwide volunteers. They enjoy a lot of benefits, such as better grades, less depression, and better leadership and social skills. Young volunteers, it turns out, are a gold mine for charities that can find a place for them and know how to recruit and retain them.

Research is all fine and good but personal experience is even more telling. I'd love to hear from you. For instance, if you volunteer, share one way it has improved your life. If you work at a nonprofit, what is one thing you've learned from your volunteers that surprised you? 

Kaynak = about.com