After retiring from 35 years as a teacher, Jeff Kellert as a tutor and helped with monthly dinners at his synagogue.

Later, he got certified to lead support groups every other week for the National Mental Health Alliance, an organization for relatives of people with mental illness.

Altogether, Kellert, 71, volunteers about 30 hours a month. The experience keeps him active, but just as important, he said, it has led to new friendships and he never expected in retirement.

B次元官网网址淭hat together with a good sense of self-esteem and self-confidence B次元官网网址� I feel like IB次元官网网址檓 doing ,B次元官网网址� said Kellert, of Albany, New York. B次元官网网址淩etirementB次元官网网址檚 not what it used to be, sitting on your rocking chair knitting. ItB次元官网网址檚 so much more.B次元官网网址�

Volunteering also may help him live longer, providing what various studies have shown are a variety of

Jacquelyn Stephens, a developmental-health psychologist at the nonprofit Mather Institute, in Evanston, Illinois, researches how to age well. She said volunteering would be good even if it didnB次元官网网址檛 have so many benefits.

B次元官网网址淏ut it just so happens that it does, and especially for older adults,B次元官网网址� she said.

The health benefits of volunteering

Eric S. Kim, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia Vancouver, said his research has found a connection between volunteering and more positive emotions, and more social support.

B次元官网网址淭hese things have downstream effects, such as increased healthy behaviors, as well as increased healthier biological function such as reduced inflammation,B次元官网网址� said Kim.

ItB次元官网网址檚 not just older adults who benefit, though they are the most-studied group. There are indications that too.

Stephens noted that some types of volunteer opportunities, like loading boxes at a food bank, include physical activity. But the work doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be physical to be beneficial, she said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of like exercise, that the best kind of volunteering is the one youB次元官网网址檒l actually do,B次元官网网址� she said, noting that the only risk is overcommitting, which would negate health benefits. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not good to be stressed out about your volunteer commitment.B次元官网网址�

How to get started volunteering

Stephens said many people might not volunteer because at first they only think of a few common options that donB次元官网网址檛 appeal to them, like tutoring or providing food to the needy. Instead, she suggested reaching out to your social network to learn about opportunities that others have enjoyed.

Doing so helps to vet an organization for a good environment for volunteers, and encourages people to get involved with a friend or relative in ways that deepen their bonds.

Other good places to start are and aggregator websites such as , which pairs a personB次元官网网址檚 skills with opportunities in their area.

Kellert recommended simply searching online for B次元官网网址渧olunteer opportunities in my town,B次元官网网址� but he also suggested doing a little soul searching before you retire.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of the time itB次元官网网址檚 right in front of you,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hat do you love? What do you want to do? And now you can do that.B次元官网网址�

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