From Burnout to Balance: How Volunteering Can Reset Your Mind

Volunteers are the quiet heroes behind strong communities.

They are generally good-hearted people who help others, but it turns out they’re getting a huge benefit that non-volunteers don’t. From sorting books at a library to lending a hand at a shelter, even the smallest acts of kindness ripple outward. Your time doesn’t just change lives— it changes you.

When volunteering becomes a habit, it improves your health. 

Studies back this up. A 2020 Journal of Happiness Studies report, which surveyed nearly 70,000 people in the UK, found that those who volunteer regularly reported higher life satisfaction and better health than people who don’t. Volunteering boosts more than communities— it boosts your well-being. 

And the world is catching on. The global average volunteering participation rate recently climbed to 9.2%- a 57% increase from the previous year. That’s a powerful shift toward people showing up, stepping in, and making a difference.

Volunteering is good for your health. 

Yes, yes, and yes! Research shows that volunteering is linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety. It can help reduce stress, calm your nervous system, and give you a stronger sense of purpose. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that people who both worked and volunteered experienced better mental health and felt less overwhelmed in the daily work-life juggle. 

When you give your time and energy to something that matters, you don’t just help, you heal. Volunteering naturally brings a sense of purpose, and you don’t need a title, a trophy, or a trust fund to spark real change. All it takes is the willingness to show up. So whether your impact is big or small, consistent or occasional, remember this: it matters, and so do you.

In fact, volunteering can make your days feel longer… in the best way! A 2012 study in Psychological Science discovered that people who help others report feeling like they have more time, not less. That’s the paradox of giving: giving time gives you time; the more you offer, the more abundant your life feels. 

Volunteering creates a connection. 

In today’s digital age, we’re more connected than ever, but often lonelier than before. Volunteering offers something screens can’t: a real human connection. It’s a chance to meet new people, build a support network, and strengthen your communication skills.

People volunteer for all kinds of reasons: to stay active, explore new interests, to meet others, or simply give back to society. No matter the motivation, the outcome is the same: more resilient communities and deeper human bonds. 

Social Friday: Turning Lost Hours into a Global Force for Good

Fridays tend to be the least productive day of the week. So what if we reimagined those slow hours-not as time lost, but as time invested? 

Social Friday serves this mission: to turn Friday afternoons (that hold the power to spark change) into moments of purpose. This is a global movement that invites people and organizations to use their downtime for good, through meaningful, social, impactful, and accessible action. 

At its core, Social Friday is about rethinking how we spend our time, especially those quieter hours on Friday afternoons when productivity naturally dips. Instead of winding down the week with idleness, Social Friday encourages individuals and organizations to redirect that time toward meaningful community engagement. And what better way to do that than through volunteering?

Volunteering helps you grow, learn, and become part of something bigger than yourself. We can transform the end of the workweek into a time of purpose and connection. Rather than getting isolated, let’s come together to collaborate, create, and give back, turning otherwise unproductive hours into something purposeful and positive. 

Social Friday beats to the same rhythm as volunteering: connection, contribution, and community. By stepping outside our usual routines and into shared experiences, we build bridges—not just between people, but between ideas, skills, and causes. 

Let impact become a habit. 

Making an impact matters— even when it’s a small one. It’s those small actions that, multiplied by many, create lasting change. Volunteering is one of the most valuable gifts we can give, and Social Friday is here to help build stronger communities, boost employee morale, and foster a culture of social responsibility. It’s a win-win for individuals, teams, and society as a whole.

Volunteering doesn’t just make the world better, it makes you better. In fact, when volunteering becomes a habit, it improves our health. Looking for a natural boost for your mood and mindset? Join the movement. 

Helping others might just be the best thing you can do for yourself. 

Now that you know volunteering is good for your mental health, let’s commit to dedicating more time to ourselves, our communities,  the planet, and our well-being. 

Let’s reinvent Fridays TOGETHER!