When you picture health and wellness, most people imagine a rigorous gym routine, nutritious diets, and morning meditation to start the day. Although these practices are great ways to Stay Fit and healthy, they are not the only way to boost your overall health and well-being. Today is Giving Tuesday, and by giving to those around you, whether it be someone you love or a random stranger, it can help make you a healthier person.
Giving “just because” has been proven to have major health benefits — both physically and mentally. These benefits not only affect the receiver, but also positively affect the giver. If you are looking to start living a healthier and happier lifestyle, perhaps you should begin with giving back to others around you.
Here are some awesome benefits of giving “just because”:
Makes You a Happier Person
Seeing someone's face light-up when you give them a gift makes your brain release serotonin. Doing more things that release serotonin will drastically improve your mental health. People who volunteer and give more gifts to others are proven to be happier and healthier than their peers.
Builds Confidence
Studies show that those who choose to give back are more likely to have higher self-esteem. This often builds from the fact that they were able to make someone else happy. Better mental health is often seen in confident people. Plus, confident people are more likely to participate in health classes and go to the gym, there’s all kinds of benefits to this new-found confidence!
Reduces Anxiety
Increased stress and anxiety are a common factor in poor mental and physical health. The happiness of giving gifts or your time to those you love or those who are in need tend to help calm stressed and anxious minds. This goes hand-in-hand with building confidence as well, as confident people tend to stress less.
Evokes Gratitude
Not only does the receiver of the gift feel gratitude, but giving also evokes a sense of gratitude in the giver. In other words, the sender feels grateful for the receiver's gratitude. Gratitude is known to promote better mental health, so it is a positive mental health experience all the way around!
Could Extend Your Life
People who give back are often known to have longer, fuller lives. Studies have found that those who gave to loved ones like spouses, friends, or neighbors were independently linked to a lower chance of dying. This is because the reduced stress and anxiety from giving gifts leads to lower blood pressure and less chance of other stress related issues that could cause health problems.
Spreads the Love
When one person gives, it inspires others around them to do the same. Giving gifts to friends and family is fun, but you can also give back to strangers with random acts of kindness.
Some common random acts of kindness include:
Paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru line
Donating toys to a local toy drive
Sending flowers to healthcare workers
Tipping the bill at a restaurant
Sometimes the simplest things in life can be what improves our mental and physical health the most. Giving back leads to a healthier and happier life for not only you, but those around you. For more benefits of giving, check out this infographic from Redbubble.
Madison Smith is a content creator and writer helping businesses build their online presence through informative, creative and shareable blog posts. When not writing on all things lifestyle, you can find Madison at the beach, hiking, planning her next travel adventure, or indulging her inner foodie at local taco shops.