Why giving makes us feel good (and how to do it)

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill

Helping others doesn’t just mean you’re a good person; it means you’re probably happier, too. That’s because giving has a pretty profound impact on our emotional, psychological, and even physical health.

And it doesn’t matter what you do or who you help: whether you’re low on cash or short on time, it’s always possible to find an appropriate way of helping others; a way that’ll make a notable difference to your life, and theirs.

But what’s so great about giving?

How helping people, helps us

Other than being a lovely thing to do, volunteering or helping others has such a sizeable list of feel-good benefits it’s a wonder the NHS doesn’t prescribe it as standard.

Being helpful, kind or generous serves to connect us to people and create stronger communities; it also meets our most basic human need for relatedness. But as well as satisfying our desire for human connection, helping others can transform our own wellbeing in some rather surprising ways.

Countless studies have shown that giving can actually:

• Boost our happiness levels

• Increase our satisfaction in life

• Provide a sense of meaning and purpose

• Improve our mood

• Reduce stress levels

• Make us feel more competent

• Extend our life expectancy

Giving has been found to activate the brain’s reward centres, and release a feel-good dose of endorphins; this improves our emotional wellbeing and sense of self-worth, whilst positively impacting our health overall.

Studies have even found that volunteers typically experience fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and feel more hopeful. And that’s partly because volunteering takes our mind off our own worries, and makes us feel more grateful for what we have.

On top of all that, people who donate some of their monthly incomes to charity – or who use a portion to buy gifts for others – are happier than those who don’t; this is regardless of income or socio-economic status.

But it’s not all about money.

Giving in a way that works for you

We’re not saying you should only help others if there’s something in it for you, but rather that it’s important to watch for signs of feeling burdened or under pressure. Instead, try to help people in a way that you enjoy.

Giving money to charity or loved ones is a wonderful thing to do, but it’s not the only way to make a difference in the world: a random act of kindness or thoughtful gesture can have enormous reverberations, while a kind word or encouraging smile could transform someone’s day.

Volunteering your time for a charity is incredibly worthwhile, but so is dedicating some time to a neighbour in need, sharing your skills with a colleague, or advising on a friend’s business plan. You could even write an unexpected letter to someone you care about, or send them a surprise through the post.

Giving your time, energy or ideas is just as valuable as donating money.

Whether we choose to help strangers, family, friends, colleagues or neighbours, giving puts us in a ‘virtuous circle’: when we’re happier, we tend to give more, and giving makes us happier – and so the circle is formed. Being on the receiving end of help also makes us more inclined to help other people; or ‘pay it forward’ as the Americans would have it.

Be it unplanned acts or regular volunteering, it all helps to boost our form and bring more meaning to our lives.

Download our poster on helping others, here.

Get in on the act

Next week (1-7 June) is National Volunteers’ Week, so what better time to get involved?

As well as being a time to thank volunteers for their lifechanging contributions to our communities, it’s also a chance to discover the joy of giving for yourself.

Visit the official Volunteers’ Week website for more information, and loads of wonderful resources.

And do let us know what impact helping others has on your form using the ‘Connections’ driver.

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Article by Emma Attenborough-Sergeant, The Wellness Writer. Helping leaders to improve culture with relatable mental health and wellness content.