April is National Volunteer Month. Helping others is worth celebrating. In honor of the month, I took a little time to reflect on my history of volunteerism.  

My volunteer choices have evolved over my adult life, along with my career path. 

When I first started my career, I chose what organizations and which volunteer positions I dedicated my time towards based on professional development (e.g., skill-building and networking) opportunities. In those days, I tended to volunteer or run for the board of director positions at professional organizations. 

As my husband and I started having children, my volunteer activities transitioned to school (i.e., room parent, school carnival, and PTO positions) and community boards (e.g., sports organizations and city positions). Later, they focused on one-time activities our family could do together (e.g., serving a meal at homeless shelters,  a day building a home, or delivering meals). 

Now with just four years left with kids in our school district, I find myself contemplating which organizations and causes I want to support in the next phase of life. It turns out I am not alone.

It’s normal to re-evaluate how and where you want to spend your time as you get older. Many women, after 50, start seeking a more fulfilling way to contribute and desire to have a true sense of purpose and meaning which volunteering can often fulfill.

Volunteering has always been a part of my lifestyle. It turns out I am not alone. Approximately 25 to 30% of American adults volunteer their time in nonprofit organizations, and women, not surprisingly, volunteer more than men. 

However, motivation for volunteering changes over time. Younger volunteers tend to be motivated by achieving interpersonal relationships, sharpening or stretching job skills, testing new careers, or building a resume. In contrast, older volunteers tend to be motivated to a greater extent by service or community obligation and concerns. 

I have always enjoyed learning, contributing, and getting to know the other wonderful volunteers.  

Like most people, I get more from volunteering than I feel like I give. To be honest, I’ve never been motivated to volunteer because of the health benefits. I do, however, find the science very intriguing, and I am excited to know that research supports positive benefits such as improvement in: 

• Mental and physical health

• Life satisfaction

• Self-esteem

• Happiness

• Depressive symptoms

• Psychological distress

• Mortality 

• Functional ability

• Social connection

• Coping ability

Volunteering is part of a healthy lifestyle. 

No matter your motivation, think about spending some of your free time volunteering for a cause. Now is a great time to be courageous and find a cause that matters to you personally. Here are some ways to do that:

• Choose a cause you're passionate about.

• Find an opportunity that aligns your skills, interests, and schedule.

• Volunteer for a position that gets you excited to contribute, not just an obligation to fulfill.

• Check out websites like VolunteerMatch to help you sort through the options.

• Discover volunteer activities you can do with others, either by bringing a few friends or as an opportunity to meet new people.

If you’re already involved in a cause, remember there are still barriers for others to get involved, such as lack of information about volunteer roles, not being asked to help, or fear of outdated skills. 

Together we have a unique opportunity to improve health and well-being for all by promoting volunteerism and making participating more accessible for others, so reach out and:

• Invite a neighbor, friend, colleague, or another woman to volunteer with you.

• Tell others about the organization you’re involved in and why. 

• Describe opportunities to get involved.

• Invite someone to an event. 

• Share the organization’s milestones via social media and invite friends to do the same.

Whether you’re already volunteering for a cause you’re passionate about or trying to find a new one to serve, doing good most definitely does you (and others) good. 

Let’s continue to rumble, do good, and build a culture of volunteerism together!