In January 2017, Kenneth Nance of Winona, MN, founded the Nance Group, a firm that helps small and medium-sized companies streamline their sales and growth profits. In Kenneth Nance’s personal time, he enjoys volunteering for various causes.
While you may know that volunteer work can boost your mental health, you might be surprised to find it can improve your physical health too, according to multiple studies.
One study conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) found that people who volunteer typically have lower rates of depression, lower mortality rates, and higher functional ability later in life. The results proved especially true for older individuals. The CNCS also found that those who volunteer for at least 100 hours every year were most likely to see these health benefits.
Additionally, findings from the Harvard School of Public Health back up the idea that volunteering is good for your physical health. Research on the topic revealed that volunteers who needed to go to the hospital typically spent nearly 40 percent fewer nights there than patients who did not volunteer.
So while your reason for volunteering may be your selfless desire to help others, contributing time to a cause can actually help you, too.
