How volunteering can improve your health

Volunteering is a foundational element of a strong community. It allows us to enhance the lives of those around us and work towards common goals. It empowers individuals to help one another, resulting in inclusive, resilient and thriving communities.

But volunteering doesn't always need to be a large commitment - small gestures are just as beneficial. Recently, a friend of mine offered to do a load of laundry for me when my washing machine broke down. This selfless gesture of volunteering her assistance left us both feeling great. By supporting a friend in need, our connection was strengthened and I felt a greater sense of belonging and a reduction in stress.

Put simply, volunteering allows us to positively channel our time and energy into big or small projects that can make a real difference to the lives of others, giving us all a greater sense of purpose.

Working towards a goal is a key aspect of mental wellbeing. It elevates your sense of motivation and purpose and when you achieve a goal, your feelings of accomplishment and self-efficacy skyrocket.

For example, each year my husband's and my charity project Finnan's Gift sets a new goal to achieve. Although there are several events and different groups fundraising throughout the year, we all feel united as we work towards a common goal.

The positive feelings don't just flow when we reach that goal, though; they also stem from being part of a community working for the greater good. When you've set yourself a target to reach, you're in "can-do" mode and taking action. You build momentum with others and can make an even bigger collective difference to the world.

Volunteering provides us with opportunities for higher-quality connections, and it's a powerful way to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. Loneliness doesn't discriminate, and it's shaping up to be one of the biggest issues of the 21st century. Although we can experience a lot of connectedness in our day-to-day lives via technology, these interactions can sometimes be fleeting or lack quality and substance.

A recent Lifeline survey showed about 60% of Australians 'often feel lonely', and isolation can affect not just our mental health, but our physical health also. By engaging in volunteer work - whether it be a small gesture like helping a friend with laundry or joining a charitable fundraising activity - you automatically strengthen your connections with those around you.

The Greater Goods Science Centre at UC Berkeley, one of the leading centres of expertise in resilience, says empathy can be the catalyst for significant social change. It's also a key ingredient of successful relationships because it helps us understand the respective needs and intentions of others.

Donating your time to help someone else gives you the chance to practise empathy while improving your own resilience. It gives you a look into other people's lives and circumstances, which widens your perspective and increases your likelihood of feeling compassion without judgement.

Volunteering also gives you greater visibility of how others overcome challenges, including what resources they might draw upon, which can only increase your own ability to problem solve and more effectively 'bounce forward' in life.

A former world champion aerial skier, Alisa Camplin made sporting history in 2002 as the first ever Australian woman to win gold at the Winter Olympics. After 18 years as a global corporate executive, Alisa now juggles a mix of sport, business, consulting, charity and governance roles. No stranger to physical and emotional trials, Alisa runs Resilience and High Performance programs to assist others in achieving their full potential. Awarded the prestigious Order of Australia medal, Alisa is passionate about mental wellbeing and helping people thrive. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.