March is such a fickle month. We get a big thaw, Daylight Saving Time begins and we think spring is upon us. But then, we get a day like today - blizzard conditions, a stiff wind and inches upon inches piling up on the grass we could see just yesterday.
Need a little cheering up?
Well first of all, we promise that it's only a short matter of time before the crocuses and daffodils poke their green stems through the snow-cleared dirt. And not long after that, it'll be so hot only a dip in a cold lake will cure you. That should be almost enough to make you a happier person, right? But for that extra umph of good cheer, why not consider volunteering?
Mental health professionals and academics have long paid attention to what makes people sad - what causes depression, both short-term and long, and how to deal with it. But recently, it seems there's been a new interest in what makes people happy. Are some predisposed to optimism? How do one's friends, family, workplace, and the world around them factor in? Can money buy happiness?
One thing researchers have noted is the effect volunteering can have on well-being. One 2003 study(1) found that volunteer status and number of hours volunteered was significantly linked to improved well-being and fewer depressive symptoms, especially in older adults. According to that research, the maximum benefit from volunteering was achieved in older adults when they volunteered 100 hours a year, or just 2 or 3 hours a week. Another study (2) found that volunteering and depression are inversely related in those over the age of 65, and that adults who engage in sustained volunteering tend to be less depressed no matter what their age.
Why not think ahead to those hot summer days and plan now to start volunteering, or maybe consider an internship? Our locations all have air conditioning for the days when you could use a break from the heat, and you'll get the chance to have a great time getting to know a team of fun volunteers and staff.
For the summer, we're seeking interns in areas like Human Resources and Community Education/Outreach, as well as volunteers to help greet visitors to our Uptown and Highland Park locations, help staff our Spanish-language clinic, escort patients, and provide outreach information at various community events and health fairs. If you'd prefer to make a difference from home, we're always looking for letter writers, bloggers and social netowrkers. Do you vacation a lot during the summer, and don't want to make a regular weekly commitment? That's fine, too - we have an e-mail network of special projects and one-time events so you can opt in whenever you have time!
Maybe you took a peek outside as you read this, and found you need a boost before the snow melts. Would you like to get involved right now? We have plenty of volunteer needs during the spring (it is spring, you know), and we offer orientations for new volunteers roughly every two weeks so it's easy to begin at any time.
For more information or to get involved, contact us at volunteers@ppmns.org or 612.821.6113, or to be connected with your local office dial 1.800.230.PLAN.
---by Nikki, Director of Volunteer Programs, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
(1) Morrow-Howell N, Hinterlong J, Rozario PA, Tang F. Effects of volunteering on the well-being of older adults. <i>J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci.</i> 2003; 58(3):S137-45.
(2) Musick MA, Wilson J. Volunteering and depression: The role of psychological and social resources in different age groups. Social Science and Medicine. 2003; 56:259-269.
As reported by www.pursuit-of-happiness.org.
