Experts warned of an epidemic of loneliness in the United States before the Omicron variant threatened to ruin holiday plans.
A lack of social support, infrequent meaningful social interactions, poor physical and mental health, and an imbalance in daily activities are some of the factors that contributed to three in five Americans feeling lonely in 2019. According to the National Health and Aging Trends Study, one quarter of those 65 and older are considered socially isolated.
Loneliness can be caused by unwanted solitude. There is a discrepancy between how you perceive your relationships and what you want from them. You can be surrounded by family at Christmas and still feel like an outsider.
A cure? Kindness towards others. Studies suggest that volunteering can improve our health, ease feelings of loneliness and broaden our social networks. There are more opportunities to give back this year than there were last year, and the need for volunteers hasn't stopped.
Val Walker, author of "400 Friends and No One to Call: Break Through Isolation and Building Community", said volunteering is one of the best ways to find a purpose and meaning in life.
A study of 10,000 volunteers in Britain found that two-thirds agreed that volunteering had helped them feel less isolated.
The director of volunteer management at Special Olympics Maryland said she sees her most withdrawn volunteers come alive during a shift and by the end of the day, they are fist bumping and elbow tapping with other people.
She said that volunteering will allow you to get to know more about yourself and broaden your view of the world.
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New York Cares volunteers arrange donated flowers with a nonprofit that has continued to operate throughout the PAIN. The bouquets are delivered to people who are socially isolated.
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Mill Jonakait has worked with the company. She said that she would love to make bouquets from a selection of different flowers. It is a lot of fun.
Social isolation and loneliness are associated with higher rates of mortality, depression and cognitive decline in older adults.
Experts say that volunteering can help people feel better about themselves.
A five-year study of more than 800 people in Detroit found that helping others who don't live with you can act as a buffer against stress. The study participants who spent time doing tasks for others were less likely to die than those who did not.
More than 85% of volunteers felt that their lives had improved because of their involvement with the program, and 98% of volunteers reported that the program helped them stay physically and mentally active, according to the president of the organization.
People want to be valued across their life.
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Meg Goble is volunteering. Research shows volunteering can have positive effects on mental and physical health.
Gary Bagley, the executive director of New York Cares, the largest volunteer organization in New York City, suggested setting a small goal, like volunteering once a week or even once a month, and building from there.
He said that one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to say you will volunteer twice a day. Take the first step and think of something manageable for you, not frightening in its scope of commitment.
Research shows that volunteering consistently is the most beneficial. One study found widowers who volunteered two or more hours a week felt less lonely than married volunteers.
17 years ago, Meg Goble began volunteering with New York Cares.
She said she is a lawyer in her other life. She said that her job is not as fulfilling as it used to be.
Ms. Goble is a volunteer and helps elementary school students with their homework and arrange flowers for others.
She was able to volunteer from a distance by doing virtual mock interviews with immigrants who were about to take the U.S. citizenship test.
Volunteer Match, AmeriCorps, Idealist, United Way, and the AARP can help you find in-person or virtual volunteer opportunities in your area.
Ask what the rules are for keeping volunteers safe. Some require their volunteers to be masked and fully vaccine free. You can volunteer in well-ventilated, uncrowded places if you are uneasy about indoor settings.
During the height of the swine flu, a retired art teacher and former Girl Scout leader in Clark, N.J., called on former teachers, family members and neighbors to fill Easter baskets and Christmas stockings for those who couldn't afford them. Family Promise helps low-income families with housing and other services.
Ms. Novy was determined to not let the situation bring her down.
Ms. Walker said that the type of activity you choose doesn't matter as much as whether you find it meaningful. In her 25 years as a rehabilitation counselor, she placed her clients in volunteer activities to help them build confidence and social skills.
Ms. Walker said that they used volunteering as a bridge to connect with the community.
Some worked on a cause. Others shared a passion like woodworking.
Ms. Walker said to think about the type of environment in which you would like to volunteer and whether it will facilitate social interactions.
She said that if you help out at a museum, you can meet larger groups of people than if you were volunteering one-on-one.
Some volunteers are driven to heal themselves.
When her son Nick died of an accidental overdose in 2015, Houston-Bean said she went from being a "real go-getter always doing a million things" to sitting numb on the couch for months.
She said she didn't expect him to die.
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The Sun Will Rise Foundation was founded by Ms. Houston-Bean. She said it allows her to honor the memory of her son, who died of an overdose, while at the same time helping so many other people.
She said that her friends and family were in shock, and that she found it hard to process her grief because they had never experienced this kind of loss. After his death, Ms. Houston-Bean started a charity that gave clothing, food and other supplies to drug users on the streets. She was curious. She was urged to check it out by her sister.
She found a nonjudgmental space full of volunteers whose loved ones had also been touched by addiction. She was going out once a month to help those in need.
Ms. Houston-Bean said she felt like she could give her mothering to them.
She started a peer grief support group for those who have lost a loved one to substance abuse in her hometown. She created a nonprofit and found volunteers to run 13 groups in different parts of the state.
She said that it takes the focus off of her grief. I have a real purpose now.
