After Jeff Kellert retired after 35 years as a teacher, he began volunteering as a private tutor and helping with monthly dinners at his synagogue.

He later became certified to lead biweekly support groups for the National Mental Health Alliance, an organization for families of the mentally ill.

In total, Kellert, 71, volunteers about 30 hours a month. The experience keeps him active, but more importantly, he says, it has given him new friendships and a sense of purpose he never expected in retirement.

“That, combined with good self-esteem and confidence, makes me feel like I’m doing something productive,” said Kellert, of Albany, New York. “Retirement isn’t what it used to be: sitting in a rocking chair and knitting. It’s so much more.”

Volunteering can also help you live longer, as various studies have shown it has a number of health and psychological benefits.

Jacquelyn Stephens, a developmental psychologist at the nonprofit Mather Institute in Evanston, Illinois, who studies how to age gracefully, says volunteering would be good even if it didn’t have so many benefits.

“But the fact is that it is that way, especially in older adults,” she said.

The health benefits of volunteering

Eric S. Kim, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, said his research has found a link between volunteering and more positive emotions, less loneliness and more social support.

“These things have knock-on effects, such as improving health behaviors as well as improving healthier biological functions, such as reducing inflammation,” Kim said.

It’s not just older adults who benefit, although they are the most studied group. There is evidence that volunteering helps students as well.

Stephens noted that some types of volunteer work, such as loading boxes at a food bank, involve physical activity. But the work doesn’t have to be physical to be useful, she said.

“It’s like exercise. The best kind of volunteering is the kind you actually do,” she said, pointing out that the only risk is over-committing, which would negate the health benefits. “It’s not good to stress about volunteering.”

How to start volunteering

Stephens said many people don’t volunteer because they initially only think of a few common options that don’t appeal to them, like tutoring or providing food to those in need. Instead, she suggested reaching out to your social network to learn about opportunities others have used.

This helps determine whether an organization provides a good volunteer environment and encourages people to volunteer for a friend or relative in a way that deepens their bond.

Other good places to start include AmeriCorps and aggregator sites like VolunteerMatch, which matches a person’s skills with opportunities in their area.

Kellert recommends simply searching online for “volunteering opportunities in my city,” but also advises doing some soul-searching before retiring.

“Often it’s right in front of you,” he said. “What do you love? What do you want to do? And now you can do it.”