Good Deeds, Great Health: Why Volunteering Is the Best Self-Care

Why Donating Your Time to Your Community Is Actually Good for Your Health (and Your Sanity)

Let’s be honest: life gets busy. Between running a business, answering emails you don’t even remember subscribing to, and trying to eat something green once in a while, volunteering can feel like a “someday” activity. But here’s the truth — donating your time doesn’t just help your community; it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself. It lowers stress, builds relationships, and gives you stories worth retelling. Honestly, it’s cheaper than therapy, burns calories, and might even make you laugh so hard you forget your phone for an hour.

1. Volunteering Is Basically Nature’s Stress Relief

Doing something good flips a chemical switch in your brain. Suddenly, your problems feel smaller, and you’re too busy hauling boxes of donations or mentoring teens to worry about whether your website banner is centered. Endorphins kick in, stress drops, and your mood climbs faster than caffeine on a Monday morning.

Plus, it’s nearly impossible to overthink your email analytics while you’re painting playground equipment or wrangling a group of high-schoolers who all swear they “don’t like pictures.” Spoiler: they all like pictures once you show them how good they look.

2. It Builds Real-World Relationships (Not Just Follower Counts)

Volunteering gets you out there—talking, laughing, collaborating, and forming connections that algorithms can only dream of. These relationships lead to genuine friendships, referrals, and (let’s be honest) some great stories to tell your clients later.

If you’re a photographer, volunteering doubles as field research. Working with teens in mock business interviews, coaching a youth leadership group, or helping at a local career day gives you incredible insight into what makes them tick—which comes in handy when you’re posing nervous seniors for their photos. You’ll know exactly how to get them to relax, laugh, and show their real personality.

And yes, I absolutely love mock interview day. It’s one of my favorite volunteer gigs of the year. Watching teens come in all nerves and leave standing taller is a reminder of how much potential we all have when someone believes in us. (I’ve got a great story about teaching at a local high school one year—remind me to tell that one sometime. It involves confidence, camera lenses, a class presentation, and a surprisingly honest discussion about first impressions that made the teacher laugh so hard he actually fell out of his chair.)

3. It Keeps You Moving (and Out of the Studio Chair)

Volunteering almost always involves a bit of movement—carrying gear, setting up tents, serving food, or teaching a workshop. You’re sneaking in physical activity without having to call it “exercise,” which makes it infinitely more enjoyable. And your Fitbit will think you’re an overachiever. Win-win.

If you’re in a creative field, the change of scenery alone can reset your inspiration. Nothing sparks new ideas for poses or lighting quite like photographing a community event or working alongside people who are doing good just for the sake of it.

4. It Expands Your Perspective (and Your Portfolio)

Donating your time connects you to people you might never meet otherwise. Each experience teaches you something different—and sometimes gives you new material for your business, too.

• Help at an animal shelter → instant mood boost, cute puppy photos, and enough fur on your clothes to start a new species.

• Work with seniors → patience, perspective, and a whole new appreciation for stories that deserve to be told.

• Join a nonprofit board or local business group → excellent networking and a front-row seat to how real leadership works.

• Volunteer at school events → perfect if you photograph families or seniors. You’ll meet parents, build trust, and connect with the next round of graduates before they even book their sessions.

5. It’s Good for Your Heart—Literally and Figuratively

Science backs it up: people who volunteer live longer, report fewer aches and pains, and are generally more optimistic. Maybe it’s because helping others gets us out of our own heads. Maybe it’s the laughter, or the teamwork, or that moment when someone says “thank you” and means it. Either way, it’s good for you. And hey—if laughter counts as cardio, community service absolutely qualifies as a workout.

The Bottom Line

Volunteering isn’t just good for your town—it’s good for your soul, your stress levels, your creativity, and maybe even your next photo session. You’ll meet people, stay active, feel useful, and get that rare kind of satisfaction that only comes from giving without expecting anything back.

So go ahead: pick a cause, roll up your sleeves, and remind yourself that doing good feels really good. You’ll help your community—and your own heart will thank you for it.