Have a Healthy Happy New Year!

As the revelry and party pomp of New Year Eve gives way to yet another dawn of another day, we are traditionally drawn to consider exercise, healthy diets and all those typical annual resolutions to live better, live longer and live life to the fullest.

This morning of New Year's Day, we offer a simple resolution for one and all--Volunteer in 2008!
And so you ask, why does "Volunteer in 2008" make such a great New Year's resolution? Why, the health benefits, of course.

When you step forward to provide your precious selfless service on behalf of your community, you are doing so much more than simply logging hours performing some task, chore or duty for you volunteer station or organization, Yes, it's true, you are actually giving yourself a heaping dose of wide-ranging health benefits as well.

Abundant research documents the health benefits of volunteering. Consider the summary of one such study summarizing what "volunteers experienced as a result of volunteering: a more optimistic outlook, increased energy, better perceived health, less depression, less pain, more ease in relaxing and sleeping, an improved immune system, better weight control, a healthier cardiovascular system, and a speedier recovery time from surgery."

(Click on the link at the end of this blog to read the full six page professional journal article about the health benefits of volunteering.)

Ask any volunteer--there's really no doubt about it. Volunteers themselves don't need some scientist to tell them about the health benefits of their volunteerism--they already know it, feel it and share it. Happiness and good health lie at the very foundation of our urge to adopt New Year's Resolutions.

Look a little deeper and you will easily see that volunteering your time and skills sums up virtually all of the values we seek in making our typical January resolutions.

So step forward and say YES to volunteering. You'd forever be grateful you helped yourself by helping others.

International Journal of Volunteer Administration article on Health Benefits of Volunteering.