After retiring from 35 years as a teacher, Jeff Kellert as a tutor and helped with monthly dinners at his synagogue.
Later, he got certified to lead support groups every other week for the National Mental Health Alliance, an organization for relatives of people with mental illness.
Altogether, Kellert, 71, volunteers about 30 hours a month. The experience keeps him active, but just as important, he said, it has led to new friendships and he never expected in retirement.
91裸聊视频淭hat together with a good sense of self-esteem and self-confidence 91裸聊视频� I feel like I91裸聊视频檓 doing ,91裸聊视频� said Kellert, of Albany, New York. 91裸聊视频淩etirement91裸聊视频檚 not what it used to be, sitting on your rocking chair knitting. It91裸聊视频檚 so much more.91裸聊视频�
Volunteering also may help him live longer, providing what various studies have shown are a variety of
Jacquelyn Stephens, a developmental-health psychologist at the nonprofit Mather Institute, in Evanston, Illinois, researches how to age well. She said volunteering would be good even if it didn91裸聊视频檛 have so many benefits.
91裸聊视频淏ut it just so happens that it does, and especially for older adults,91裸聊视频� she said.
The health benefits of volunteering
Eric S. Kim, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia Vancouver, said his research has found a connection between volunteering and more positive emotions, and more social support.
91裸聊视频淭hese things have downstream effects, such as increased healthy behaviors, as well as increased healthier biological function such as reduced inflammation,91裸聊视频� said Kim.
It91裸聊视频檚 not just older adults who benefit, though they are the most-studied group. There are indications that too.
Stephens noted that some types of volunteer opportunities, like loading boxes at a food bank, include physical activity. But the work doesn91裸聊视频檛 have to be physical to be beneficial, she said.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 kind of like exercise, that the best kind of volunteering is the one you91裸聊视频檒l actually do,91裸聊视频� she said, noting that the only risk is overcommitting, which would negate health benefits. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not good to be stressed out about your volunteer commitment.91裸聊视频�
How to get started volunteering
Stephens said many people might not volunteer because at first they only think of a few common options that don91裸聊视频檛 appeal to them, like tutoring or providing food to the needy. Instead, she suggested reaching out to your social network to learn about opportunities that others have enjoyed.
Doing so helps to vet an organization for a good environment for volunteers, and encourages people to get involved with a friend or relative in ways that deepen their bonds.
Other good places to start are and aggregator websites such as , which pairs a person91裸聊视频檚 skills with opportunities in their area.
Kellert recommended simply searching online for 91裸聊视频渧olunteer opportunities in my town,91裸聊视频� but he also suggested doing a little soul searching before you retire.
91裸聊视频淎 lot of the time it91裸聊视频檚 right in front of you,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲hat do you love? What do you want to do? And now you can do that.91裸聊视频�
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