Helping others helps you too
When we think about volunteering, we often focus on the good it does for others. But giving your time to a cause can have great benefits for your wellbeing whilst you help others.
I’ve been writing to someone who I was paired with by a loneliness charity. Putting pen to paper and sharing about my life whilst getting to know a lovely stranger has been a great experience. I offered to do this from a sense of wanting to help others. But actually it’s also helping me.
It’s been good to step away from the busy ‘grind’ of life and sit with pen and paper to pause and write about what I have been doing and how I’m feeling. I think volunteering is a great way to connect with others and take us “out of ourselves”.
In my previous role, I worked alongside some amazing volunteers who did important work relating to social and environmental issues in society. I saw firsthand how volunteering transformed not just the organisations they supported, but the volunteers themselves. They found purpose, made friends, and learned new skills.
My own volunteering journey started when I was a student. I helped out in an Oxfam regional office which was a really interesting and had an unexpected benefit – it led to my first paid “real” job! Recently I rejoined work sessions organised by my local woodland conservation group. I’d forgotten how good it feels to be connected with others whilst being outdoors and working together. There’s a real sense of achievement at the end of a session.
Get started with giving your time
If you’d like to experience the benefits for yourself here’s some tips:
Start small. Whether it’s a one-off or a regular thing is up to you. You don’t need to commit to hours every week – even occasional volunteering can make a difference to you and others.
Choose something that resonates. Think about causes you care about or activities you enjoy. Love being outdoors? Conservation groups are always looking for help. Prefer indoor activities? Charities need all sorts of support from admin to befriending.
Just begin. Maybe this is a good year to start? The hardest part is taking that first step, but the rewards – for you and those you help – are worth it.
Do you volunteer at all? The benefits of giving your time to a good cause go far beyond the obvious, creating positivity in your own life and perhaps unexpected wins.
Getting support
Sometimes you know you want to make positive changes – whether that’s volunteering or something else – but you get stuck. Coaching can give you the space to explore what’s important to you and helps nudge you to take action for your wellbeing. Reach out for a free chat to see if I can help you live well. It’s an opportunity to explore if coaching is right for you.
You can read these client reviews to see the impacts that working with me can have.
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