How can volunteering benefit a volunteer? Share with us by replying to the thread! To help you think, we've listed a few benefits of volunteering below!

#1: Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together.

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

#2: Volunteering increases self-confidence

Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.

#3: Volunteering combats depression

A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times.

#4: Volunteering can advance your career

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field.

Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first.

#5: Develops emotional stability

Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, low self-esteem, and even Obsessive Compulsive Disorder have all been helped by volunteering. When people with OCD, PTSD, or anger management issues volunteer, they feel more connected to others. They have an increased sense of purpose. Connection and meaning translate to decreased symptoms and improved social function.

#6: Burns that stubborn belly fat

When we volunteer, even if it is not a physically demanding project, we still get up and get moving.

#7: Volunteer gains a sense of purpose and becomes happier

How you may ask?

Throughout your life, you look to develop social and professional skills that promote your personal achievement. Using those skills for a wider, communal impact can be even more fulfilling. Volunteering will enrich your life and give you a broader purpose and can give you a boost of motivation.

We are lucky to be on 7cups which provides as simple a volunteering activity as being an active listener to someone. You just need to hold yourself back and give a safe and compassionate space for the member to vent to you. There are easy-to-practice active listening skills such as validating emotions, asking open-ended questions, and showing understanding and empathy.

If you are a member and considering volunteering on 7cups, read this post about becoming a listener.

If you are a listener and want to get better at listening, it could be worth walking the listener learner growth path.