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.

sa国际传媒淭hat together with a good sense of self-esteem and self-confidence sa国际传媒� I feel like Isa国际传媒檓 doing ,sa国际传媒� said Kellert, of Albany, New York. sa国际传媒淩etirementsa国际传媒檚 not what it used to be, sitting on your rocking chair knitting. Itsa国际传媒檚 so much more.sa国际传媒�

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 didnsa国际传媒檛 have so many benefits.

sa国际传媒淏ut it just so happens that it does, and especially for older adults,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淭hese things have downstream effects, such as increased healthy behaviors, as well as increased healthier biological function such as reduced inflammation,sa国际传媒� said Kim.

Itsa国际传媒檚 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 doesnsa国际传媒檛 have to be physical to be beneficial, she said.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 kind of like exercise, that the best kind of volunteering is the one yousa国际传媒檒l actually do,sa国际传媒� she said, noting that the only risk is overcommitting, which would negate health benefits. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not good to be stressed out about your volunteer commitment.sa国际传媒�

How to get started volunteering

Stephens said many people might not volunteer because at first they only think of a few common options that donsa国际传媒檛 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 personsa国际传媒檚 skills with opportunities in their area.

Kellert recommended simply searching online for sa国际传媒渧olunteer opportunities in my town,sa国际传媒� but he also suggested doing a little soul searching before you retire.

sa国际传媒淎 lot of the time itsa国际传媒檚 right in front of you,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淲hat do you love? What do you want to do? And now you can do that.sa国际传媒�

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