Volunteering and Its Surprising Benefits 志愿服务及其意想不到的好处

Volunteering can help you make friends， learn new skills， advance your career， and even feel happier and healthier.

志愿服务可以帮助你结交新朋友、学习新技能、促进职业发展，甚至让你更快乐、更健康。

The benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need， worthwhile causes， and the community， but the benefits can be even greater for you， the volunteer.

志愿服务能给你带来巨大好处。它为需要帮助的人、有价值的事业和社区提供至关重要的帮助，但对于志愿者而言，好处会更多。

Benefit 1： Volunteering connects you to others

好处1：志愿服务将你与他人联系起来

One of the more well-known bene-fits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people， animals， and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street： It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends， expand your network， and boost your social skills.

志愿服务对社区产生影响，这一好处人们比较熟悉。志愿服务使你能够与社区建立联系，让它变得更加美好。即使是帮助完成最微不足道的任务，也能使那些需要帮助的人、动物和组织的生活大有不同。志愿服务是双向的：志愿服务不仅让你选择帮助的事业受益，还会让你和家人获益。投入时间从事志愿活动可以帮助你结交新朋友、拓展人脉并提高社交技能。

Making new friends and contacts

结识新朋友、拓展人脉圈

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people， especially if you are new to an area. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network， exposing you to people with common interests， neighborhood resources， and fun and fulfilling activities.

结识新朋友、巩固现有人际关系的最佳方式之一就是共同参与一项活动。志愿服务是结识新朋友的一个绝佳方式，尤其是当你刚到一个地方的时候。志愿活动能够加强你与社区的联系、拓宽社会支持网络，让你有机会接触有共同兴趣的人、社区资源以及各种有趣而充实的活动。

Increasing your social and relationship skills

提高社交和人际交往技能

While some people are naturally outgoing， others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills， since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum， it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

有些人天生外向，而有的人则生性害羞，很难结识新朋友。志愿服务让你有机会锻炼并培养社交技能，因为你会定期与一群有共同兴趣的人会面。一旦有了动力，就更容易拓展社交圈，结交更多朋友、拓展人脉。

Benefit 2： Volunteering is good for your mind and body

好处2：志愿服务有益身心

Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress， anger， and anxiety. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

参加志愿服务有助于缓解压力、愤怒和焦虑带来的影响。与另一个人保持有意义的联系最能缓解压力。事实证明，与宠物和其他动物一起工作也可以改善情绪、缓解压力和焦虑情绪。

Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system， which in turn protects you against depression.

志愿服务可以对抗抑郁。志愿服务让你与他人经常保持联系，并帮助你建立稳固的社会支持体系，从而保护你免受抑郁情绪的困扰。

Volunteering makes you happy. By measuring hormones and brain activity， researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give， the happier we feel.

志愿服务让人快乐。通过监测荷尔蒙和脑部活动，研究人员发现帮助他人会带来巨大的快乐。为他人付出是人类的天性。付出越多，我们就越快乐。

Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community， which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself， the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

志愿服务可以增强自信心。当你为他人和社区做好事时，成就感油然而生。志愿者这一角色也能给人带来自豪感和认同感。人们自我感觉越好，越有可能积极看待自己的生活和未来的目标。

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults， especially those who have retired or lost a spouse， can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation， volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries， keep you mentally stimulated， and add more zest to your life.

志愿服务使人产生目标感。年长的人，尤其是已经退休或失去配偶的老年人，可以通过帮助他人重新找到生活的意义和方向。无论你多大年纪、生活状况如何，志愿服务都可以使你忘却烦恼、振奋精神、对待生活更加热情。

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. Older volunteers tend to walk more， find it easier to cope with everyday tasks， are less likely to develop high blood pressure， and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease.

志愿服务有助于保持身体健康。研究发现，志愿者的死亡率低于不做志愿者的人。年龄较大的志愿者往往愿意多走路，能更轻松处理日常事务，患高血压的可能性较小，思维能力也更强。志愿服务还能缓解慢性疼痛症状、降低患心脏病的风险。

Benefit 3： Volunteering can advance your career

好处3：志愿服务可以促进职业发展

If you’re considering a new career， volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers， volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace， such as teamwork， communication， problem solving， project planning， task management， and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings1 at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first.