By Cathi Coppinger

Feeling guilty because you don’t do any volunteer work? No worries, according to a new study, you shouldn’t do volunteer work until you’re 40.

But there’s a twist.

The world obviously NEEDS volunteers and there’s infinite work to be done.  But if you’re doing volunteer work so YOU can feel some positive benefits . . . those don’t kick in until you’re older. The study found that younger people didn’t get any real boost in their emotional health or happiness from volunteering.  But once you hit 40, you start experiencing real benefits, and those peak in your late 70s. The researchers say it’s probably because younger people view volunteer work as an obligation or a chore.  But as you get older and more ‘worldly,’ it starts being something that’s more fulfilling. So, in summary, if you’re under 40 and you’re selfishly volunteering because you think it’ll make you happier, there’s no need . . . just go back to selfishly NOT volunteering for a few years and you’ll be fine.