Five Ways to well-being – Give

Giving is one of the ways to maintaining wellbeing. It is about helping others and making a difference to the life and happiness of other people. Giving involves act of kindness to others. Acts of kindness don’t have to cost any money but are good works done that make a difference. There are various ways to give and this can include; Giving of your time, resources, skills or attention. Giving includes volunteering in your community, checking in with people and really paying attention to what they are saying and how they are doing, helping someone who needs help, donating to charities.

Research indicates that people who are giving to others would generally consider themselves to be happy and they would have improved wellbeing. Giving is considered to have some health benefits.  It is believed that giving produces a chemical response in the body as the brain releases feel good chemicals such as Serotonin, Dopamine and Oxytocin and these chemicals have physical and mental health benefits. Some of the physical and mental health benefits of giving are; lower blood pressure, reduced stress, a longer lifespan etc.

The mental health foundation has a list of 50 random acts of kindness that can be done. A few examples of these include:

1.     Offering to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor

2.     Say good morning

3.     Tell someone you know why you are thankful for them

4.     Make someone laugh

5.     Walk your friend’s dog

6.     Let a fellow driver merge into your lane

7.     Engage in conversation with a shop assistant whilst paying at the till

8.     Get to know the new staff member

9.     Give praise to your colleague for something they have done well

10.Help a mother carry her pushchair down the stairs or hold the door for her