You’ve heard the saying, “give ‘til it hurts.” Well it turns out that giving your time not only doesn’t hurt, it’s actually good for you.

Volunteering Is Good for Your Physical and Mental Health

Experts say that volunteering is good for people of all ages, though most research has focused on older adults.

Emotional benefits include higher self-esteem and a greater sense of well-being. And it can also lead to less stress and depression, lower risk of dementia, and the other benefits that come with more socialization.

Studies show that additional physical benefits for people who volunteer may include lower blood pressure and increased longevity.

In fact, research from Carnegie Mellon University suggests that older adults who volunteer for at least 200 hours per year may decrease their risk of high blood pressure by 40 percent.

Why is there a connection between volunteering and blood pressure? For one thing, doing volunteer work may increase physical activity for those who aren’t normally active.

Helping others may also promote the release of hormones that protect against stress. And less stress can mean lower risk of cardiovascular disease and better control of high blood pressure.

Volunteering may also help you live longer. Research has found that people who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who don’t.

Several factors may explain these findings. For example, experts say that meaningful relationships, being productive and keeping active are vital to healthy aging. Volunteering can help achieve all of these.

But the reason you volunteer is also important. According to a study from the University of Michigan, adult volunteers had a lower risk of dying over a four-year period than non-volunteers. But researchers only found this to be true for those whose primary focus was on helping others rather than the benefits to themselves, like trying to round out a resume.

Lend a Helping Hand

So how can you help? Start by finding a volunteer opportunity that you’ll enjoy.

Do you love children? Help build a playground. Are you a tax wizard? Offer to help a not-for-profit with their accounting. Is walking your passion? Do a walk for the American Heart Association.

Whatever your skills, chances are, there’s an organization that can put them to good use. The time commitment required ranges from regular commitments to only occasional help.

And remember: You may get as much out of volunteering as the people you help.

 

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Meet the BCBSIL Volunteer of the Year.

Each year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) recognizes employee volunteers for meaningful contributions to their communities.

This year’s BCBSIL Blue Corps Volunteer of the Year is Greg Else, a client implementation consultant. For Greg, who has been with the company for 13 years, volunteering and the desire to help others are in his blood. He has been active in his community since he was a child, going with his family to soup kitchens, nursing homes and food pantries to lend a hand.

Since joining BCBSIL, Greg has become pivotal to our volunteer and community efforts. He co-founded the company’s In-Abled Disability Awareness group and serves as the Illinois chair. And he has organized several dozen BCBSIL United Way Celebration of Caring events since 2008, including the kickoff of the annual employee giving campaign.

Greg says his proudest accomplishment is bringing the Chicago Cares Serve-a-Thon to BCBSIL. In 2003, he and a few other employees started a grass-roots effort to build a team of 100 BCBSIL employees to take part in the event. Since then, the team has more than tripled.

Greg goes above and beyond in his efforts to support his own community as well as BCBSIL’s community impact within the greater Chicago area.