Imagine slowing your biological aging process by just one hour a week. How? Simply by volunteering. In addition to adding years to your life, it can also make those years more fulfilling.
A recent study published in ‘Social Science and Medicine’ found that volunteering just one hour per week is associated with slower biological aging.
Volunteering not only provides health benefits, but it also enhances your sense of purpose, boosts mental well-being, elevates your mood, and strengthens social connections, all while contributing to a positive change in the world. And if you can dedicate a few extra hours each week, the rewards become even more profound.
Biological age reflects how quickly your cells and tissues are aging compared to your actual chronological age. While chronological age counts the years you’ve lived, biological age takes into account the influence of lifestyle and environmental factors on your DNA, often measured through epigenetic testing.
How Volunteering Can Slow Aging?
Experts suggest that volunteering may slow biological aging through a combination of physical, social, and psychological benefits. Many volunteer activities involve physical movement, like walking, which promotes physical health.
Additionally, the social connections formed during volunteering are vital, as humans are inherently social beings. These interactions help reduce stress and improve cognitive function, further contributing to slower aging.
According to researchers, volunteering offers a sense of purpose, enhances mental well-being, and helps fill gaps left by life changes, such as retiring or losing important roles like parenting. Together, these benefits may explain how giving your time to others can give back to your health.
Benefits of Family Volunteering
Volunteering as a family not only strengthens bonds but also helps build stronger communities. Working together for a cause amplifies the impact, while teaching children important values like compassion, tolerance, and gratitude. Kids gain valuable skills, develop a sense of service, and are more likely to continue volunteering into adulthood.
Parents also benefit by spending quality time with their children and teaching values through action rather than words. Involving kids in planning allows families to discover what causes resonate most with them. Nonprofits, often in need of extra hands, greatly benefit from family volunteers. With so many causes to support, there’s truly something for everyone.
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