Giving Is Good For Your Health

Kelly Gonzalez
Busy Bodies
Health and Fitness
Date Published: December 24, 2008

Giving is Good for Your Health

Christmas is a wonderful time of year full of tradition, family, friends, and joy. This is what you must keep telling yourself when the stress of the holiday season is beginning to peak.

One of the biggest stressors of Christmas is gift giving. What do you buy? How much do you spend? Will they like it? These are all common worries that cause stress and can have a negative effect on your health. The act of giving and the happiness that you bring to others in the process can actually do the opposite.
This Christmas instead of only giving materialistic gifts to relatives and friends, save some money, buy less, and instead encourage your family to perform an act of altruism. Altruism is defined as “unselfish benevolent love.” It is giving to others out of the goodness of your heart. When you perform acts of altruism you are not only helping those in need, but also benefiting your health

Giving, sharing, and volunteering, is part of human nature. We are social creatures that need and rely on others. We are wired to feel good when we give due to evolution and group selection. Dr. Stephen Post co-authored the book, Why Good Things Happen to Good People. He says, “If something like helping benefits the group, it will be associated with pleasure and happiness.”

Studies have shown that giving in a variety of forms whether it is gifts, money to charity, volunteering, listening and counseling, or even lending a helping hand to a stranger can reduce stress, anxiety, boost immunity, and add years to your life.

A 2003 study in the The Journal of Gerontology states, “older adults who volunteer and who engage in more hours of volunteering report higher levels of wellbeing.” Other studies show that people who volunteer and give to others live longer lives with less stress, depression, and anxiety.

The Institute of Research on Unlimited Love based in Cleveland, Ohio found that altruism activates the immune response and promotes the “relaxation response.” This can be the extra kick you need to combat the stress of the holiday season.
Giving to charity or volunteering for a worthy cause has been proven to promote a “helper’s high,” a feeling that mimics the way you feel after a good workout. It releases endorphins and acts as a natural painkiller. Giving to others can leave you with a warm feeling, a boost in energy, and overall happier mood.

You know the Christmas story of Ebenezer Scrooge, he was depressed, angry, and despised the Christmas spirit. After being visited by the ghosts of Christmas he was enlightened and began to practice altruism by giving to the poor. His kind actions not only brought happiness to those that he helped, but also to himself.

A researcher at the University of Massachusetts Medical School states, “The act of giving to someone else may have mental-health benefits because the very nature of focusing outside the self counters the self-focused nature of anxiety and depression. This outer focus leads to a change in how people perceive their quality of life.”

There are many opportunities to practice altruism during the holiday season. If possible extend your barriers and give to those who are truly in need. Donate winter clothing, toys or food to a homeless shelter, volunteer at a soup kitchen, participate in making stockings and gifts for those in need. The health benefits of altruism are most likely related to the social interaction that you experience through the act, therefore giving money to a charity can make you feel good, but may not be as beneficial to your health and mentality as actually participating, and then witnessing the effects of your actions.

This Christmas limit the usual stressors of gift giving- the detailed wrapping, the cost of your gift, whether or not your gift will be returned, exchanged, or re-gifted, and instead focus on the feelings experienced- the gratitude of the receiver, the joy you feel from their happiness, and the thought that you put into the gift. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.