Browsing through the Taproot listings for more volunteer work in copywriting and editing yesterday, I came across an opening to help out a nonprofit in Haiti. I was inspired by the organization but not excited enough to put the time in to write a concise and catchy synopsis of my background, which includes over 40 years of working as a journalist, content developer, and editor. In short, it’s a job I should have had no problem getting were it not for my laziness.
But after all these years (and maybe because of all these years!), I find it really difficult to summarize my experience in 200 words or less. So when I heard back that the organization was not proceeding with an interview with me I wasn’t surprised although I was disappointed. Wished I had taken the time to write that paragraph and actually went ahead and went ahead and drafted a graph about myself for future volunteer opportunities. Then I applied for another copywriting position with an organization that supports people with mental health issues. I really took my time with this application because it’s really something I can see myself as a volunteer.
I still continue to work on content for the African projects in Nigeria and Ghana. I finished with their spice catalog and began writing the case studies this week. Right now, they are in the process of revamping their website so that has become one of the extra projects I’m helping them with. Being the extra pair of eyes to catch errors in style and wording. It’s the kind of work I love the most. Anyway, when I returned from the gym today, I spoke again briefly with the CEO who wants me to become more engaged with working on getting the website revised and live by the end of the month. She also wants me to talk with a member of the staff about using AI to help with the writing of the case studies. When I signed up as a volunteer, I agreed to 15 hours of work a week (and was really excited about that), but this week I had finished the assignments I had received Monday for the week by Tuesday morning! Maybe a total of seven hours. I’m excited that I may have more work after tomorrow’s two phone calls. And I’m hoping the other project with the mental health outreach comes through because I committed to ten hours weekly for them.
I find that this particular volunteer work really helps me maintain a feeling of connectedness with the world and a sense of meaning in my life.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) writes that volunteering has a positive impact on mental health.
Naturally, the dialogue surrounding activism and volunteerism centers on how others will benefit from volunteer work that you do. But years of research demonstrate that there are benefits for volunteers themselves. Whether you are a family member or caregiver for someone with a mental health condition — or have the lived experience yourself — volunteering can be a positive step toward improving your health and yield many benefits:
They list the benefits as reducing stress, increasing happiness, developing confidence, and finding purpose.
In times when you feel lost, volunteering can give you a sense of purpose. Dedicating time to a cause can give you new direction and allow you to find meaning in something unexpected. It can also take your mind off your own troubles while keeping you mentally stimulated.
The Mayo Clinic also reports that research has found volunteering is especially beneficial for older adults.
Volunteer activities keep people moving and thinking at the same time. Research has found that volunteering among adults, age 60 and over, provided benefits to physical and mental health, and volunteers report better physical health than do nonvolunteers. Research also has shown that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety, especially for people 65 and older.
-snip-
Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine. By spending time in service to others, volunteers report feeling a sense of meaning and appreciation, both given and received, which can have a stress-reducing effect. Reduced stress further decreases risk of many physical and mental health problems, such has heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety and general illness. In addition, a Longitudinal Study of Aging found that individuals who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not, even when controlling for age, gender and physical health.
To hook up with volunteer opportunities, check out Taproot, Idealist, and Volunteer Match. If you know of any other agencies which promote volunteer opportunities, please add them in the comments.
Kitchen Table Kibitzing is a community series for those who wish to share a virtual kitchen table with other readers of Daily Kos who aren’t throwing pies at one another. Drop by to talk about music, your weather, your garden, or what you cooked for supper…. Newcomers may notice that many who post in this series already know one another to some degree, but we welcome guests at our kitchen table and hope to make some new friends as well.