Wellness

Spread the volunteer cheer

If you’re thinking about spreading the kind of happiness that can’t be gift wrapped, consult our guide for the best ways to deliver good cheer. By Samantha Page

Anyone who’s volunteered will tell you that when you

spend time volunteering,

you feel rewarded and

gratified. There is something priceless about being useful and making meaningful connections, and shifting your focus from yourself to others.

Using time constructively – and expecting no remuneration for it – has physical and emotional benefits. According to a series of neuroscience studies at Stanford University, volunteering adjusts your brain chemistry, releasing feel-good hormones like dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. So it’s not surprising that volunteers report the act gives them a better perspective on their life.

At a juncture when many people are feeling time-poor, Harvard Business Review referenced a study in which volunteers reported feeling “time affluent” – that they felt they had more time, not less. Clearly, spending time doing something meaningful felt less wasteful and self-indulgent and resulted in people feeling less time-constrained.

HEALTHY BODY, HAPPY MIND

Volunteering helps people feel more socially connected while warding off loneliness and depression. In a study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers found that people who volunteer are happier than people who don’t.

According to Joburg-based clinical psychologist Teboho Monyamane, “Volunteering engages all aspects of a person’s health – mental, physiological and cognitive.” She refers to a Carnegie Melon University study which reported that adults over the age of 50 who volunteered on a regular basis were less likely to develop high blood pressure.

Apart from the physical health benefits, she adds: “Given the stress and lack of connection people have felt over the past two-and-a-half years, investing your time in helping others with the challenges they may be facing, and engaging in a common mission, is good for the soul and it boosts self-esteem.”

WHAT’S YOUR INTENTION?

While the benefits are clear, it’s important that volunteering isn’t seen merely as something that looks good on a CV. It’s important that potential volunteers sincerely examine their intention. It must be meaningful to you and to the cause or organisation to which you give your time. Define where you think you can most benefit other people.

Volunteers also need to be fully committed to the work. GreaterGood SA, which helps link volunteers to possible causes of interest, explains: “Causes rely on a particular number of volunteers turning up. If they don’t, the project can’t go ahead.”

LET’S GIVE IT A GO

Want to volunteer over the festive season and beyond? Here are five tips to help you proceed in the best way.

1. UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY

If you really want to make an impact, do research about the community in which you want to work. Get to know its history, current challenges and what would most benefit its people.

2. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

Ethical and responsible volunteering is about building meaningful relationships. These partnerships should be based on open communication and a genuine understanding of the community or organisation in which you want to volunteer. It’s not constructive to go into a community assuming that you have all the answers, and that your solution is the best.

3. ASSESS YOUR SKILLS

The values and skills you bring to the table will ensure that your experience is purposeful and meaningful.

Ask yourself:

• What motivates you? • What was a time you felt called to help someone, and what did you do? • Why do you want to help this organisation? • What skills do you have that would benefit an organisation? • How can you improve on your current skills in order to do the kind of volunteer work you’re most attracted to?

Many people have talents and interests that they can’t use during their day-to-day work. Let’s say you’ve done a graphic design course that you can’t use in the office – you can put that skill to use making posters or pamphlets, or designing a logo for an organisation.

Volunteering is also a great way to learn workplace skills. For example, overseeing a project can improve your leadership skills. Romy Heldsinger, CEO at Forgood, says: “You’ll be working alongside industry professionals and building social capital that can help you stand out to potential employers. For matriculants and graduates entering the workplace, it’s a chance to try out different roles before committing to a specific career path.”

4. STAY FLEXIBLE

Unlike a 9-to-5 job, giving your time to organisations isn’t always predictable. Needs vary and some situations are affected by changes in the community, and this might affect how you give your time. Always find out what the organisation needs and how you can fit the tasks into your schedule (is it flexible?) before you commit.

5. TAKE STOCK

Once you have volunteered, reflect on what the experience has taught you and conduct a critical assessment of what happened, why it matters to you and what you can do better moving forward.

Ask yourself:

• What did you learn? • How were you challenged? • What could be the cause of the issues you encountered? • Is there anything you would do differently in future? • What would you like to learn more about?

This is an important step in ensuring volunteering is as valuable to you as it is to the people you choose to help.

What’s your volunteer vibe?

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BEST SERVE OTHERS