All's well when you're vocationally well

No matter what age you are at, you will be happiest and healthiest when you find a vocation that aligns with your personal values, interests and beliefs, lead a purpose-driven life and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Your vocation, or your true calling in life, extends beyond your career, to the area of selfless volunteering.

 

Re-prioritising our career journey
As we undergo transformations at the different stages in life, our priorities in life will change. Gone are the days when we would leave no stone unturned to beat project deadlines for that chance for promotion. Now we would probably prefer to spend time catching up with old friends, or bonding with our grandchildren at the playground. But it doesn't mean that today's 3rd agers are contented with growing old quietly. Many 3rd agers have discovered newfound meaning in volunteering by putting the professional skills and life experience they have acquired over the decades to effective use and make a difference to the lives of others.

 

The merits of volunteering
One of the greatest joys in life is to help others while helping yourself. In fact, the benefits of volunteering are surprising. Research has shown that volunteering brings great social, emotional, spiritual and even physical health benefits to older volunteers.

• Recharge your mind and body
  Volunteering perks up self-confidence, as the good you do for the community provides a natural sense of accomplishment. You can also physically benefit from all the guided tours as a park volunteer guide or refresh your mind with new cultural knowledge that you pick up as a museum volunteer.
• Pick up valuable skills
  A fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions, volunteering opens the door to new learning opportunities.
• Get connected to others
  Through shared activities in your voluntary work, you can make new friends, widen your support network, and improve your social and relationship skills.

 

It's easy to get started
Refer to the C3A Positive Ageing Toolkit and test your 7 Dimensions of Wellness, paying particular attention to your level of Vocational Wellness. After you've gauged your ability to gain personal satisfaction from voluntary work, you may refer to the list of C3A partners for a head start in your voluntary work.

 

You can also check out volunteer opportunities available at http://www.c3a.org.sg/volunteerism/