Retirement can be one of the greatest chapters of your life, when you get to spend more time with your children and grandchildren, enjoy your morning coffee without having to rush, and catch up with friends during what were once your work hours.
“One of the best benefits of volunteering when you retire can be to build new social connections,” says Jamilyn Murphy-Hughes, LCSW, associate vice president of Community Services at Northern Light Acadia Hospital. “As we work through adulthood, many of our social relationships are built through co-workers or the parents of our children’s friends, for instance. Volunteering brings you together with other people who believe in the same causes as you and share the same enjoyment from giving back.”
Murphy-Hughes notes that the benefits of volunteering go beyond broadening your social circle, but can also include developing new skills, lowering stress levels, and even helping maintain cognitive health as you age. Like any social activity, she says, it can be difficult to simply get started. Because of that, she emphasizes the need to find a volunteer role that you’re passionate about and brings you joy.
“Overall, volunteering provides a sense of purpose that benefits your social, physical, and mental health,” adds Murphy-Hughes. “Increased socialization, increased physical activity, being around those with shared interests – all of this leads to lower stress levels, improved cognition, improved sense of wellbeing, better physical health and an overall general improvement in mood.”
Northern Light Health has enriching volunteer opportunities at nearly all of our nine member organizations across Maine, including:
Additionally, consider checking out ServeMaine.org, a centralized hub where you can browse active opportunities across the state.