Some
people volunteer because they have great big hearts. Others volunteer to look
good. Some are forced to work off a court-ordered sentence. But, according to a
recent study published in the BMC Public Health journal, volunteering can
actually ensure you live longer!
Researchers
at the University of Exeter reviewed dozens of academic papers and discovered
that subjects who volunteered in their free time were a fifth less likely to
die within the next four to seven years than the average person. They also
rated their feelings of depression lower, while claiming to enjoy a greater
overall quality of life.
So
check your local newspaper. Do your homework. See what organizations you can
get involved with. Better yet – if you don’t find an organization that suits
your style, start your own! Then get out there and make a difference.
Volunteering
isn’t relegated to hospital visits, either. You can be outside enjoying the
fresh air and sunshine while picking up litter, for instance. Or, start a
compost heap. Start a community garden. Start your own garden. Don’t have a
yard? Try growing your own pot of tomatoes on the windowsill (You’ll see how
much better they taste than the ones you buy at the store!). There are tons of
environmentally conscious projects you can get involved with. Stop wasting time
watching that TV show for the millionth time. It’s time for a change.
Old,
young – doesn’t matter! Volunteering is about trying to make yourself a better
person. And while you’re at it, why not make the Earth a better place, too?
Volunteering is great because it keeps you socially active, thinking, and
exercising. It even reduces blood pressure! The BMC’s study showed a distinct
correlation between High School students and improved cardiovascular health.
It’s
estimated that 36% of people in Australia dedicate at least some portion of
their free time to volunteering, compared to 27% in America and 22.5% in
Europe. Those numbers need to go up!
“Our
systematic review shows that volunteering is associated with improvements in
mental health, but more work is needed to establish whether volunteering is
actually the cause,” says Dr. Suzanne Richards, the study’s head researcher. "It’s
still unclear whether biological and cultural factors and social resources that
are often associated with better health and survival are also associated with a
willingness to volunteer in the first place."
NRGLab
has dedicated years to developing technology that will “give back” to millions of
people around the world. From the portable, carbon-free SH-Box generator to the
innovative SV-Turbine for gasification, the green energy revolution is about to
score a major victory. The question is: what sideline will you be standing on
when the first bomb drops?
To
show your support for a better tomorrow – a greener future – follow us on
Facebook or visit nrglab.asia
[ BMC Public Health journal, University of Exeter, Dr. Suzanne Richards, SV-Turbine, SH-Box generator, nrglab, nrglab singapore, nrglab pte ltd ]
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