Volunteer Your Way To Live Longer

I'm on vacation this week, so we're revisiting one of my favorite episodes. I hope you enjoy this replay!

This episode makes the case that volunteering isn't just a nice thing to do—it's one of the best things you can do for your health. We talk about how giving just a couple of hours each week can improve your mood, support brain health, reduce stress, and help you build meaningful connections.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why volunteering has been linked to better health, lower blood pressure, reduced depression, and even greater longevity.
• The simple goal of 100 hours a year—and why consistency matters more than doing a lot all at once.
• How to find your perfect volunteer "flavor," whether that's in-person, remote, one-time events, or ongoing opportunities.
• Real-life volunteer ideas, from reading with children and calling isolated seniors to helping at food pantries and animal shelters.
• How to use AARP's Create The Good program to find volunteer opportunities that match your interests.
• Why volunteering is one of the easiest ways to build community without the awkward small talk.
• How to start right where you are—in your church, synagogue, condo building, neighborhood, or local organizations.

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend. Sharing really is caring...and maybe that counts as volunteering too!

For more information, show notes, and resources, visit www.agingaintforsissiespodcast.com.

I'd also love to hear from you! If you have ideas for future episodes, resources you'd like to share, or know of something that would benefit our senior community—a program, service, volunteer opportunity, or even a job opening—please reach out through the website. I always love hearing from listeners.

Transcript

Summer Break And Favorite Reruns

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Hey friends! Before we jump into today's episode, I want to let you know that I am taking a little summer vacation. And yes, even podcasters need to recharge once in a while. While I'm away, I'm bringing back some of my favorite episodes. These are conversations that are just as relevant today as when they first aired. And I think they're worth another listen. Whether today is your first time hearing it or your second, I hope you find something new to take away from it. I'll be back soon with brand new episodes. Until then, thanks for listening and thanks for being here. And remember, Aging Aim for Sissies.

Why Volunteering Might Be The Secret

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Hello, and welcome to Aging A for Sissies. My name is Marcy Backis, and I am your host. Well, hello there, everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Aging Aim for Sissies, the podcast where we tell Father Time just to take a seat and shut up. I'm Marcy, your sassy guide to all things boldly. And today we're talking about something that might just be the secret sauce to living longer, feeling better, and wait for it having fun. What do you think it can be? Well, today we're going to talk about volunteering. Now, before you roll your eyes and think, I'm about to guilt trip you into handing out soup in a hairnet, hold on. This isn't your grandma's volunteer pitch. Unless your grandma was a total rock star. And in that case, let's channel her energy. So today we are going to be talking about volunteering.

Life Updates From Chicago

SPEAKER_00 1:37

Right now, I just want to catch you up on me, doing great, moving forward. I'm just going to assume I'm cancer free for the time. You know, they never tell you that really. And living my life. It's been a great summer here in Chicago. I just had a friend, Annette, come visit for four days, and we were here, there, and everywhere and ate everything we could possibly eat. I'll tell you, when you live in a city that is a food city and people come to visit, it is one meal after another. But we did so much walking, it didn't seem to have any effect on my weight, which makes me happy. We had a couple of good storms yesterday. We have had a little bit of rain today. Craig and I are going to Prinzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. It's an outdoor theater or concert venue. And you know what's really cool about it? Only like the first 20 rows in this concert venue, outdoor concert venue, do you have to pay for? After that, all of the seeds are first come, first serve, and there's a ton of seats. And then after and they also have a lawn. So if you want to do, like, you know, the picnic thing, they have that as well. It's a really great thing that the city of Chicago does. They do try to make things very accessible for everyone. Our pools in the summer are free. Our ice skating rinks in the winter are free. Uh we have free days at all of our museums. They do really try to make this fabulous city accessible for all. And I it was something that my friend pointed out to me as I was saying things. And I thought, she's right. What a great thing that this city does. And if you've never been to Chicago, it is an absolute stunner. It's a great city, lots of fun things to do. You can do a lot of things or you can do nothing and just sit at the beach all day. So uh if you haven't been to Chicago, I highly suggest visiting. It is an extremely fun and beautiful city. So that was fun having someone come visit. And now back to, you know how you have to kind of get back to life and and that type of thing. Having trouble with my stupid dish, it's not stupid, sorry, dishwasher. My dishwasher. They came out, put a whole bunch of new parts in it. It's only a year and a half old. And now they're figuring out it's an electrical problem. So nonetheless, when you're just two, dishes are not too hard. So we've been doing dishes for a couple weeks. Looks like we're going to be doing dishes for a little while longer. Well, well, I leave you with that, and I hope that your summer is going fabulous. I hope you have good weather where you are. Here it's not been too bad. We had a couple of super hot days when my girlfriend was here, but today we're back to our normal temperatures, a little bit of rain. Um, I can use it. I need to rest. So sit back, grab yourself something to drink, relax. If you're driving, keep your eyes on the road. And we're gonna get into the segment about volunteering. And again, don't roll your eyes. I've got some good ideas for you. All righty then.

Volunteering Benefits Backed By Science

SPEAKER_00 4:46

Why volunteering is the new superfood? Let's get this straight. Volunteering isn't just about being nice, it's about staying alive. Seriously. Research says people who volunteer 100 hours a year, that's like two hours a week about the time you spend looking for your glasses, which is true, or your phone, or your car keys. People that volunteer 100 hours a year, again, two hours a week live longer. That's not a feel-good quote. That's science. I want you just to think about that. A couple hours a week to live longer. That's it's pretty that math is math, and pretty good for me. Volunteering can also lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of depression, and even slow down aging. So, in many other episodes, we've talked about depression, and as we're getting older, and high blood pressure is definitely a problem. So, this is something if you could do something that isn't a pill to help yourself, and maybe along with medication, why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you? Basically, it's Botox for your soul. And guess what? You don't need to be a saint, you just need to show up if you just need to show up two hours a week, and we'll talk about what, where, when, and how, but I I want you to think about that. I want that to really sink in. That just showing up for someone else or something else, two hours a week can keep you out of depression, lower your blood pressure, easy for you to say, and live longer. Why wouldn't you do it? Why wouldn't you do it? You just need to show up. So the health benefits to it, the glow up is real. Volunteering boosts your mood, gives you a reason to put on real pants, and not all of them you need to put on real pants for. You can wear sweats to volunteer at the animal shelter or at a local um rescue or going to read to kids or helping kids with their reading or helping kids with homework, or you you don't really have to put on real pants, but you can. And you get to connect with other human beings, which let's be honest, is something we all need after that hermit phase of 2020. And I think for a lot of us, getting out of that hermit phase has been really hard. But SYI, it's been five years. Five years. It's time to step on out and see what the world needs to help yourself and to help others. It also sharpens your brain. That's right, brain cells don't have to retire just because you did. And like I had mentioned before, helping kids read, organizing a food drive, keeps the noggin working and the heart happy, plus less time binge watching crime dramas alone. It's a win-win. Now, okay, I understand. I am a binge watching crime drama junkie. Just because you volunteer a couple days a week doesn't mean it has to cut into your crime watching time. Let's not get crazy here. I mean, seriously. But again, it's a win-win for everyone. Now, my two cats are like having a fight here. Let's stop for a minute. Okay, I'm gonna have to do a little editing there. They were getting a little feisty. Patrick is my talker. You can probably hear him talking in the background.

Find The Volunteer Role That Fits

SPEAKER_00 8:33

So finding your volunteer flavor. Hmm. Not all volunteering is created equal. You don't have to do anything that involves a clickboard or a potluck unless that's your thing. Into books, help a kid learn to read. My girlfriend Joanne, if you're listening, Joanne, hi, miss you. Uh, used to volunteer at one of the elementary schools and help with a reading program. Handy with a phone, call lonely seniors. Love bossing people around. Nonprofits need you. There is so much out there where they need you. I there are in-person gigs, there are remote gigs, one-day events, long-term commitments. Think of it like dating, but instead of ghosting, you're actually doing some good. So you you there's everything out there, all kinds of things. It's not just one way, it's not just there's boy scouts, there's boys and girls in scouting that don't have parents that can show up for them. Boys and girls' clubs. There is so much. There is now food pantries. I volunteered for years at a food pantry in um Orange County. When I my kids were growing up, I didn't work, I was a stay-at-home mom, and I did I more volunteer hours than I ever care to think about between scouting, church, and um the food pantry. So it's as wide as you want it to be, it's as narrow as it you want it to be, and it is all under your control. AARP's Create the Good Platform is full of ways to match your vibe to your volunteer gig. It's like Tinder for Dude Goodders. So, uh, like I've told you all, if you're not, you should be an AARP member. There's so many benefits. I got lower car insurance, lower homeowners insurance by being an AARP member. You get all kinds of benefits, and their website is chock full of information. To be honest, a lot of the information that I'm using for this podcast came from AARP. So check into it, go to their create the good section, and again, it's like Tinder for do-gooders. It'll match you up with something that suits your soul. The beauty of volunteering at this age, it's not just to help your kids and and and you get to pick what you volunteer at. You get to do. Maybe there's a garden that needs help. Maybe there's um helping kids plant a vegetable garden. If you're a gardener, look into things. Honest to goodness, people. Parents are so busy these days. Helping kids is a great thing to do. It really is. I right now um am volunteering at my church. Craig and I run a book group. Maybe that's your thing. Run a book group. Um, a gardening club, start something for lonely seniors. Um I'm also the um the name just went right out of my head. I am the stewardship chair for our um cathedral as well. And I put in hours doing that. I also volunteer. My podcast doesn't pay me. So this is another one of the things I do. I bring you information. This is my volunteer to you. I hope last week you enjoyed Nita's um information on advantage plans. It gave me a lot to think about as I'm moving into that phase. Um, but I volunteer basically to do these podcasts. I put the time in, I put these scripts together, I work on things, and I bring that information to you. So you can find something that works for you.

Instant Community Without Small Talk

SPEAKER_00 12:28

Socializing without small talk. Volunteering gives you instant community without the awkward. So, what do you do, Convo? You're all there for a reason. You skip the fluff and you dive into purpose. So there doesn't have to be, if you're not a small talk person, you're there to pass out water at a race. You're there to do everybody's there, and they know what they're there, and you're there for a purpose. And let's not ignore the bonus side effect. Cute volunteer vests. Okay, maybe not cute, but definitely conversation starters. You might increase your t-shirt collection too. Sometimes you get t-shirts in your volunteer jobs. It's never too late unless you're dead. And remember what I told you volunteering does what lengthens your life. Think you're too old to start volunteering? No. Some of the best volunteers are 70 plus because they bring the one thing younger folks are short on time and wisdom. We have time, we have wisdom. We need to share that. You've got stories, skills, sass, and yes, time. So why not make it count? Whether it's AmeriCorps seniors, experience corps, or your local pet shelter, someone out there needs you. Not 20 years ago, you they need you now. Wrinkles and all. The beauty of volunteering is as long as you're a good person and you show up, no one's gonna fire you. You don't have to go through a hiring process. Sometimes you have some betting to do, depending if you're working with kids, and and of course they need to do their due diligence. But you know what? What are us seniors worrying about at our jobs all the time? Getting aged out, fired. Volunteering, that's not a worry. Long as you show up and do what they need you to do, they're gonna keep you. Let's get real and real busy. Volunteering isn't just about being noble, it's about feeling connected, feeling energized, and feeling youthful. And dare I say young? Yep, I said it. It's gonna make you feel younger. You're gonna you're gonna connect with different ages. You are going to feel revitalized. I promise you that.

A Simple Challenge To Start Helping

SPEAKER_00 14:53

So, my challenge to you this week is find one thing, just one. Maybe it's a one-day local event or an online opportunity, a cause you care about. Dip your toe in. It might be just at your church. Hey, if your church, your synagogue, your place of worship. Do they have a seniors group? Maybe it's time to start one. My mom started one at her church and it was called salt and pepper. I can't remember now. But, you know, my my mother-in-law had a group called the owls. You know, so look into what you already are a part of. Do they need something more? Can you volunteer to bring something? Maybe your place of worship needs um people to work with kids. It's an easy place to start, a place you're already connected. If you're not ready to venture out, start where you're already connected. You may be connected to a gardening group. Have you thought about talking to your local gardening group and saying, hey, why don't we start something for kids? Bring kids in and show them how vegetables are grown, that they don't just show up in the grocery store. Anyways, I want you to think about that. I want you to dip your toe in. You might just end up cannonballing into something amazing, and you never know. I will tell you, I have never regretted one of my volunteer positions, and I don't regret the ones I have now. I'm gonna tell you, even you know, and if you're living in a condo like I am, maybe they need a movie club, maybe they need a book group. It's a way to start, it's a way to connect. I'm always all about the animals. If you love animals, heading over to your local shelter or your your your local rescue, helping them hand feed kittens, doing whatever they need, cleaning cages. Um our oldest Kyle has always been a volunteer at the Pet Smart rescues. You know how in PetSmart they have the kitties there and everything, and and you know, they split the job up amongst many people. So Kyle was one night a week, was the job to take, you know, take the animals out, clean the cages. They clean them in the morning and at night, and there's a volunteer that does it in the morning, and there's a volunteer that does it at night. They need you. This world does not run on money alone. Let me tell you, it runs on volunteers.

Share The Show And Stay Connected

SPEAKER_00 17:32

So that's it for today's episode of Aging Ape for Sissies. If you like it, please share it with your friends because sharing is caring, and that counts as volunteering too, right? Sharing my podcast. You know, if you need any of the information for my podcast, you can find it at www.aging8forsissies podcast.com. You've got Nita Wenrick's information there from last week. You can send me an email from there. If you have suggestions for episodes, you have comments, no criticism, please. This is a platform that I just I work very hard at to make happy for you. So um, but if you have any suggestions for episodes, I would love that. Or if you have something you want to come in and talk about, I would love to interview you. So if you have information to share, if you have a job, if you have something that you feel needs to get out there to the senior community, please contact me. My contact information again is at my website, inside, I'm sorry, AgingA for Susie's podcast.com. And a reminder, I have another podcast called Inside Marcy's Mind. You can find it where you find this podcast and all podcasts. It also has a website, insidemarcy's mind.com. You can listen to my episodes on my websites as well. And this week on Insidemarcy's Mind, we're gonna be talking about dehydration. Um, it's a problem, it's a problem for everyone. So we're gonna talk about that. I want you to stay sassy, stay bold, and stay useful. Until next time, go do something good with a little attitude. Talk to you next week.