“As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands,
one for helping yourself and one for helping others.”
~Audrey Hepburn
one for helping yourself and one for helping others.”
~Audrey Hepburn
I remember this moment vividly, almost as if I was in her classroom yesterday. The elementary student ran over to me, a grin spreading wide across her face, before she wrapped her arms into a tight hug around my legs. Her eyes glowed with excitement as she told me she had recognized me from helping in her classroom a previous year. After four years of reading to students, these experiences of gratitude and love became commonplace. When we think of volunteering, we often ask ourselves how we can make a difference in other people’s lives. We can’t underestimate the effects of community service on others, and it addition, it is vital to recognize the changes we undergo ourselves as volunteers. If I held up a mirror to myself that day, you would have seen that the grin on that little girl’s face reflected in my own smile.
BENEFITS of volunteering on our social and mental well-being:
- Volunteering improves our physical and mental health. Studies show that volunteering has proven to aid psychological well-being and can reduce burnout and depression by preventing self-isolation and providing a sense of purpose. Feelings of appreciation after being in service to others can contribute to lower stress levels. Lifting some weight off of other people’s shoulders often provides me with the distraction I need from my own worries.
- Boosts self-esteem and can create a greater feeling of self-worth as we begin to feel the impact of our contributions. Community service projects should be observed as an accomplishment. Being a volunteer became a part of my identity that I was proud of as I started to work on school supply drives and restore vegetation in local parks.
- Strengthens our empathy muscles. Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s thoughts and feelings from their point of view. Volunteering often involves interactions with people who have backgrounds different than our own which can help us further develop this vital social skill. Empathy is a superpower, put those muscles to good use!
- Foster the happiness effect. Researchers at the London School of Economics discovered that the more people volunteered, the happier they became. When studying a group of Americans, they found that happiness levels increased by 7% when volunteering monthly and 12% when volunteering bimonthly. No wonder I had such a big grin on my face that day at the elementary school.
- Builds social skills and connections. Volunteering provides an opportunity to expand our community by working with people who share our passions and values. It can teach us how to work as a team and provides opportunities for leadership. Youth develop stronger communication, time management, and decision-making skills.
TIPS for Volunteering:
- Volunteer for projects or organizations that align with your passions. Community service work should not feel like an obligation or a checklist of chores that you must complete. If you connect with the mission of the organization, it won't feel like work but will provide you with fulfillment.
- Participate in the changes you want to see. I loved books as a kid and I wanted to foster that same excitement in students at my local elementary school. This made my experience rewarding and motivating because I was working on something I believed in.
- Engage children at a young age in order to build compassion and empathy and instill the importance of giving back to their community. Volunteering teaches us that our actions have meaning and teaches us to be globally-minded citizens.
- Reflect on your contributions. The impact you make on others doesn’t always come in the form of thank you cards, monetary donations, or big results. Be proud of even the smallest contributions and recognize the changes you experienced: How have your skills developed as a leader or team member? Have you noticed a difference in your mental well-being?
GET STARTED
- View HANDOUT OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. What are you waiting for? Let's turn our empathy into action by serving the Santa Barbara community.
- Volunteer in your own neighborhood... walk someone's dog, visit with an elderly neighbor or offer to do their grocery shopping, tutor kids on your block, provide child care for a parent that could use a break, or go through your closets and donate clothes and toys that you are not using.
- Get your friends, family, or co-workers together and create CARE KITS to keep in your car and give to those in need when you see them. Make a day of gleaning fruit for the Foodbank, join a beach clean-up with Explore Ecology, or spend time with the animals at BUNS.
The holiday season is a time when we are often more motivated to give back but the needs throughout our community and world don't end in December. Consider how you want to continue to make a difference in 2023.
-Sara, YouthWell Intern, UCSB Student
[Rachael Steidl & Elise Fields, YouthWell Staff]
[Rachael Steidl & Elise Fields, YouthWell Staff]
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4th, 4:30PM - Wellness Workshop
Learn to build a healthy relationship with technology (more details here)
Comments (0)