While it’s no secret that volunteering near and far supports the global community—and makes us feel just downright good—psychologists continue to study other reasons why people volunteer and how organizations are able to stay afloat, particularly those that rotate volunteers on a weekly or yearly basis. Not to mention the hassle it causes us volunteers—time, stress, and sometimes even our own money!

However, volunteering remains one of America’s favorite pastimes, with nearly one third of all American adults reportedly volunteering each week.

Below are the 10 most commonly accepted psychological reasons volunteering makes us feel so good:

1: Responsible Travel

If we volunteer in a new community or even abroad, we are able to take on the role of a responsible traveler, rather than a stereotypical tourist. This can make us feel less vulnerable to our new surroundings and provide a sense of cohesion within the community that is unparalleled with other travelers.

2: Building Relationships

It should come as no surprise that human contact, relationship building, and learning about others makes us feel more complete as individuals. Volunteering provides ample opportunities to create friendships, both with other volunteers and with those you serve.

3: Values and Morals

Whether satisfying religiously convicted morals or humanistic urges, volunteering leads us to a more fulfilled lifestyle.

4: Self-Confidence

Travelling to a new community where you do not know anyone and are unfamiliar with the language or culture—and still being able to make a significant impact through the work you are doing—can do wonders for your self-esteem. Providing a platform for individuals, particularly teens or those who face increased stress and pressures on a daily basis, to demonstrate their capabilities provides a sense of self-worth and accomplishment.

5: We Like to Pay-it-Forward

Oftentimes we are the benefactors of someone else’s kindness and hard work. Naturally, we possess the desire to show our own altruism through serving others.

6: We Learn while we Volunteer

Humans are a naturally inquisitive species. We want to learn how things work, why they are the way they are, and how they can be improved. We receive a sense of satisfaction from being able to take away a gain—such as a new knowledge or skill acquired while volunteering.

7: We Change

…Especially when we volunteer long-term. A beneficial consequence of volunteering is our level of personal growth and how we apply our time spent volunteering when we return home. Growth may present itself in a myriad of ways, from newfound independence to holding less stereotyped opinions of others.

8: We Feel Obligated

Oftentimes we do not even realize we feel the necessity to volunteer—it just rises in us. This can derive from routine volunteering when we’re children or adolescents that creates a pattern in behavior, or even feelings of guilt after seeing a picture of a decimated village in the aftermath of a hurricane. Whatever heartstring is being pulled, we feel it.

9: Professional Goals

Whether it’s because we are looking to a career in the development world or because we seek some sort of practical experience, many of us volunteer because it provides a platform for understanding and involvement in a field we may be entering.

10: We Teach Others

Many of us have the desire to serve as an example for others to follow. In regards to volunteering, this trait proves ever-useful, as mentors are always welcome in the volunteer world to provide insight and information for someone whose shoes you were in not long ago.

Ok, so basically I just gave you a bunch of reasons why you should volunteer. But psychology is scientific, so trust me JGet out there and make yourself happy!

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Article Categories: Research