By Angela Loucks, Volunteer Center Director, United Way of Inner Wisconsin

As we usher in the New Year, many people are making resolutions:  to lose weight, to quit smoking, to live healthier, etc.  Here is a resolution that's easy to achieve: volunteer in 2018!  The opportunities to roll your sleeves up and pitch in are all around you:  at church, at your kid's / grandchildren's school or youth activities, or at the programs you participate in.  Signing up to volunteer might be as easy as putting your name on a list or just saying "Sure!  I can do that!"  If you need a little extra guidance, United Way of Inner Wisconsin's Volunteer Center is here to help.  

If you're looking for healthier lifestyle choices in 2018, volunteering should be added to your list. Did you know that volunteering is also good for your health?  Volunteering lowers your blood pressure, strengthens your immune system and reduces your body's response to stress.  All these can lead to increased longevity.  

Don't forget your mental health too.  Volunteering can improve your self-esteem and your mood.  It also raises levels of oxytocin in your brain.  Oxytocin is the "bonding hormone" that helps you establish relationships.  So it's no coincidence that when people volunteer they meet new people and socialize.

All of these reasons make volunteering a great lifestyle choice for anyone!  It gives you sense of purpose, which can be helpful for people getting ready for retirement.  It can help with cognitive function, which may be useful for folks with dementia.  Studies have also shown that people who volunteer tend to recover faster when experiencing the loss of a loved one.  

So now that you've resolved to volunteer in 2018, here's some ideas to get you started:  you can become a hospice volunteer, make cards for Honor Flight participants or make holiday crafts for Meals on Wheels.  You can walk dogs at the Humane Society, sell gift certificates at the Chamber of Commerce or share a unique talent at the Boys and Girls Club.  You can also visit our website at www.volunteerinnerwisc.org for more ideas or call the Volunteer Center at 715-421-0390.  We are looking forward to hearing from you!