Not very much has been written about the benefits of volunteering other than the obvious: volunteering helps in career development, volunteering is good to share skills and volunteering is the foundation of communities but recently there have been some interesting data about volunteering being good for your health.

Statistically, the Alzheimers Society tells us that over the next 30 years ten million baby boomers will be turning 65. That golden number says you are wrapping up your career and what are you going to do now? As the economic times have taken their toll, are many of us going to be able to travel extensively and keep busy 24/7 or are we going to wonder what do we do now? What is going to make us feel good? How are going to avoid the “I am not needed anymore” mentality? Can my skills and passion make a difference, could volunteering help me while helping others?

Doing 40 to 100 hours of volunteering a year can have a positive impact on your health. Research out of the Mayo Clinic indicates that volunteering lowers your risk of heart disease, may help you feel younger and even live longer. Whether you are young or old, volunteering can help you wave off depression, increase self confidence and stay physically healthy. Toronto’s Baycrest Hospital has just begun studying healthy brain age through the Baycrest Research about Volunteering in Older Adults (BRAVO) project, which will be completed in 2013. This project is investigating the link between volunteering and brain health, as measured by physical, cognitive, and social functioning, rather than directly examining brains (e.g., through MRIs).

This groundbreaking research came about from a scientist at Baycrest who was asked to speak at their volunteer recognition event and who realized that there has not been a study done on brain heath and volunteering.

Previous research has focused almost exclusively on how people feel volunteering has helped them, but has not explored how volunteering improves older adults’ cognitive functions, such as memory and attention. BRAVO volunteers’ physical, cognitive and psychosocial functioning will be assessed before and after a year of volunteering. This research project will focus on the scientific link between the act of volunteering and how it affects brain health.

Well I say volunteer! Volunteer well! Volunteer often!

Use the skills that you have to make a difference to not just the community but to your quality of life. Find something that makes you think, laugh and feel good about yourself.

Research has shown that volunteering creates a “helping high” and when you feel good your body releases neurotransmitters into your system. This is that “feel good” feeling: that you have when you are needed and appreciated. Feeling good is good for your health in so many ways. Being active both through volunteering and various other activities may also help you avoid depression and those little stress lines that many have paid good money to remove. It’s also associated with longevity.

And what about that magical injection of botox? Can injecting volunteerism into your life have the same effect? Based on findings presented at Neuroscience 2010, Botox helps people by creating a physical change in their appearance that makes them feel good about themselves in a positive way. By feeling good, you may remove some of your stress and anxiety. These injections are used to help you look younger and therefore feel younger by causing the facial muscles to relax.

So you can choose to spend your hard earned dollars trying to look young artificially or you can volunteer your time and get that natural euphoria that comes from helping others and giving back. Your choice! I know I prefer anything that does not have a needle attached to it.

Lori Gotlieb is the Manager of Community Engagement for The Arthritis Society, Toronto Region and the founder of Lori Gotlieb Consulting. Lori is an internationally published author and workshop facilitator. Lori can be reached at lori.gotlieb@rogers.com.