To coincide with Volunteers Week 2020 in the UK, this is the next blog post in this series, looking at the benefits that giving to others can have to our mental health and wellbeing.
What is giving and why is it good for us?
Giving is the act of offering something to someone or something else besides ourselves – this could be to a stranger, friend, family member, a charitable organisation, your local or wider community. It may be parting with material things like money and gifts, or immaterial things like our time, skills, knowledge, enthusiasm, passion and kindness.
In practice, giving can come in many forms – it could mean supporting a friend with a problem, donating unused items to a charity, volunteering your time for a cause you care about, or simply making an effort to make more time for the people that you care about.
The benefits that giving has for our mental health and our sense of wellbeing are also significant; the act of giving, in whatever form it may be, helps us to feel a part of something and connected to the world around us which is hugely important for our sense of wellbeing. When we give to others it also builds a sense of trust and cooperation in our relationships. Through this, we strengthen our relationships with others making them more positive, which is key to good mental health.
When we give to others, we don’t only make them feel closer to us; we also feel closer to them. By cultivating gratitude in everyday life, by showing the people around us that we care, we increase our own positivity about the world and those around us.
Giving is contagious
Evidence from neuroscience shows that the act of giving releases endorphins, creating what is known as the ‘helper’s high‘; and interestingly these feel-good hormones are released not just in the person doing the giving, but in the receiver too.
When we give to others, this has a knock-on effect – the people who are given to are more likely to act kindly and give to others as a result, promoting happiness and improving our wellbeing. Giving to others also helps us think about other people, distracting us from our own concerns, which can also be good for our mood.
Small Everyday Acts of Giving
Whoever we are, whatever we do, we can make giving a part of our daily lives. Often, it’s the little things that can make all the difference to our mental health and wellbeing, and finding ways to make giving part of our daily life can be a real positive step towards living a happier and more fulfilling life.
It doesn’t all have to be about giving money either – donating your skills and time to help others, or giving something you no longer need to someone who can make use of it, or even simply showing genuine appreciation and support to others – are all ways of giving.
Here are some suggestions of actions you can take, both small and large:
- Give a compliment – acknowledge what someone in your life has done well.
- Donate household items and clothes you don’t need to a local charity or someone in need
- Offer to help a neighbour or friend with their to-do list.
- Look at what you are good at doing and what you enjoy, and offer to share those skills to help others.
- Donate your time to help a community initiative.
- Help with fundraisers, social events and community events.
My own experiences
It’s about finding what works for you – and so what brings you joy. I grew up with my parents both heavily involved in community fundraising, as part of charitable clubs – Round Table & Ladies Circle – as well as being parent governors of my junior school. Whether it was sorting clothes and toys for jumble sales at the church hall, dressed as an elf with a collection bucket on the Christmas float around the local streets, or selling tombola tickets at community events, I was involved as well. Giving back to the community was role-modelled to me from an early age.
I also was lucky enough to be in Brownies and Girl Guides, where I learnt so many skills from the great leaders who gave their time. So as an adult I have found my ways to give back.
- I make regular financial donations to charities close to my heart because I’m fortunate to be in the financial position to do so.
- I have a handful of good friends I give my energy to regularly – whether its a quick call or text, treating them to cuppa and cake, or popping by with a random gift or to lend or borrow something useful, we give each other our support in various ways.
- I regularly buy from (and donate to) charity shops. Most of my wardrobe now is made up of second-hand finds that someone else had the joy of giving away.
- I use sites such as Freegle and Freecycle to give away unused items the charity shops can’t take to someone who can make use of it somehow, and apps such as Olio for food that I may otherwise waste. These don’t cost anything, and I’m helping the environment along the way.
- I’ve volunteered my time at my local community circus events – whether it be greeting ticket holders at the door, or helping serve interval refreshments, I’ve put my skills to use for a charity I’m passionate about in return for all it has given me.
- More recently, I volunteer my time each week as a Brownie Guide leader – helping young girls to ‘do their best’ gives me a sense of purpose and a welcome distraction from the stresses of work too.
These are just some of the ways I give regularly. Some involve more time and commitment than others; with community groups, in particular, they often rely solely upon volunteers and appreciate any support, so don’t let the thought of regular commitment put you off – if you have skills to share then be sure they will be grateful.
I’ve found that when I give to others, they give back in a way that helps me often more than they know. And I get a lot of joy from rummaging the rails and bookshelves of the charity shops for that unique find. I also keep a gratitude journal, that often features appreciation of the kindness of others who have either given their time, wisdom, or support to me in some way.
In what ways do you give already? in what small way can you give this week – with your time, knowledge or skills, or just some simple acts of kindness? Share some of your thoughts and suggestions in the comments
Click here to read the next post in this series: GET ACTIVE
