Great reasons for cultivating the volunteer in you

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First off, you don’t have to wait until you have a lot of time to begin volunteering. The spirit of volunteerism is something you can develop in increments, as part of your everyday endeavors. You likewise don’t need to be a full-fledged earning citizen to begin helping others.


Volunteering is great for your social life, as it establishes real and strong relationships. This is especially helpful in today’s digital world where most people are more physically isolated, settling for online connections with others. Mingling with co-volunteers and seeing in-person the plight of people who need our help further a giving culture and forge lasting relationships and bonds with our family, friends, and new acquaintances.


Studies show that volunteering leads to healthier lives, maybe even more than exercising and eating right. After all, the entailed physical activity is great for the body and even our mental well-being, giving us a clear sense of what’s meaningful to us and what’s most affective in the lives of others. Studies likewise prove that many older volunteers who continue to become people for others after retirement live longer.

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Though not necessarily the main reason for volunteering, doing so nonetheless significantly aids in forwarding careers. Meeting like-minded people creates opportunities to leverage volunteering for our personal benefit. Many volunteers who begin early end up having careers connected to charitable institutions and non-profits. The more you get immersed in volunteerism, you help bolster the volunteer workforce, and, in effect, improve societies worldwide.


Hi, there. The name’s Douglas A. Grady and I’m a financial advisor based in California. Outside of work, I’m a big advocate of saving money, wise spending, and supporting charities. For more on my work and advocacies, check out this website.