Want to live long? Do something beneficial, volunteer, etc.

Recently in one of  my Psychology classes, I learned about the effect of genuinely being involved in beneficial things and ‘greater goods’ upon a persons physical health. Most of the focus in the academic world regarding improving one’s quality of life rests on taking care of the physical self in order to achieve longevity, etc, but interestingly, according to this report on the NationalService.gov website:

“[..]volunteers have greater longevity, higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease. [..]“Volunteering makes the heart grow stronger,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation.

[..]

The Health Benefits of Volunteering documents major findings from more than 30 rigorous and longitudinal studies that reviewed the relationship between health and volunteering, with particular emphasis on studies that seek to determine the causal connection between the two factors. The studies, which were controlled for other factors, found that volunteering leads to improved physical and mental health.”

So there you have it…another reason to maybe get out there, use your skills and give back to the community. Even if you think your ‘only’ skill is the ability to speak English, you can do a lot. Plenty of people need help with learning the language, etc. Bottom line, it’s good for your heart and soul. You feel like you’re doing something worthwhile, and others benefit from you and of course, in the eyes of the Almighty, you gain lots of plus points.