Glow Up, Give Back: Why Volunteering is the New Wellness Hack Your Self-Care Routine Needs

It might not be your first thought when it comes to self-care and wellness, but science backs it: volunteering is good for your health.

Why Should I Volunteer?

There are a number of ways that volunteering can positively impact you and your health - let's start with the physical side of things.

Obviously how much exercise you will be doing depends on the type of work you are doing, but volunteering can be a really great way to become more active. 

There are plenty of volunteering opportunities that take you out and about into the fresh air, and allow you to get your steps in - while others may require some form of manual labour.

What Are the Benefits of Volunteering for Mental Health?

Volunteering also has an amazing impact on your mental health - for one thing, it can give you the opportunity to go out and socialise, which we know has a positive impact on conditions like anxiety and depression. 

Socialising allows us to make new friends with shared experiences, alleviating the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can often have such a negative impact on our mental health.

Is Giving Back Good for You?

There’s also a huge benefit that comes from the knowledge that you’re giving back. Whether that’s giving back to the environment, to animals, or to other people in your community, it has been scientifically proven to improve our mental health.

It’s a big boost to your self-worth knowing that you are having a positive impact on our world - in whatever way that is. You are important, and the impact you can have, even just as one person, is immeasurable.

Charity Check-in

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

Home-Start UK. This local community network of trained volunteers and experts helps families with young children through their challenging times. Support them here.

Re-Engage. This is a charity that is making life less lonely for thousands of older people every year, through volunteer-led activities. Find out more.

Seed. This volunteer organisation based out of England aims to bridge the gap between professional care and self-help for eating disorder recovery. Find out more.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing, Partnerships for the Goals.