If you’re looking for something to boost your spirits and overall wellbeing right now, volunteering may help.
A new study published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that volunteering can reduce risk of death, improve sense of well being and boost physical activity.
The study looked at nearly 13,000 adults age 50 or older and concluded there is “growing evidence documents strong associations between volunteering and favorable health and well-being outcomes.”
Two groups of people were tracked for four years and the study concluded that those who volunteered about two hours per week saw positive health benefits.
“Now is a wonderful opportunity to reimagine what volunteering could look like, perhaps in ways that allow us to remain physically distant from others,” the study’s author Eric Kim told CNN.
“Volunteering might help enrich our own lives by strengthening our bonds to others, helping us feel a sense of purpose and optimism, and protecting us from feelings of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and hopelessness,” Kim added.
While volunteering may look different right now amid efforts to maintain a safe distance, there are still ways to help. Here are 100 charitable ways to help in metro Atlanta.