Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, we want to highlight the health benefits of volunteering and serving others! MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, encouraging us to volunteer in ways that improve our local communities.
This day give you the opportunity to improve your social, environmental, mental, and physical health – all at once! According to the Mayo Clinic, service to others has the following impacts on health:
1) Volunteering reduces stress by giving you a meaningful way to get grounded, stay present, and turn your attention away from worrying.
2) Volunteering gets you involved in your community, combating feelings of isolation. Do good in your neighborhood, and maybe make a new friend!
3) Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment you may not get from your daily life. Whether cleaning up a park, crafting with local seniors, or creating hygiene kits for those without homes, you are making meaningful changes in your own backyard.
4) Volunteering makes you happy! Humans are designed to be in a community, and helping one another spikes the hormones in our brains that improve our mood – dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin.
Find MLK Day of Service opportunities in your area at volunteermatch.org!