Altruism Improves Happiness

“Altruism is innate, but it’s not instinctual. Everybody’s wired for it, but a switch has to be flipped.” — David Rakoff

The benefits of giving aren’t just campy sayings on the Hallmark channel. Doing good turns out to be really positive for you. Even though we recommend giving back regularly, it’s even more applicable during the holiday season. Luckily, there are many ways to donate.

People are social creatures, so it makes sense that taking care of your fellow person is good for all involved. Research consistently shows that donating money, volunteering, or giving blood benefits both the giver and receiver¹. When donating monetarily, happiness improved at the same rate no matter the size of the donation (large or small)². It only mattered that you spent it on someone other than yourself. Is money tight? You can give back by volunteering. Compared to non-volunteers, those who offer up their time have less depression, less anxiety, higher self-esteem, and higher life satisfaction³.

During a time when commercials are bombarding you with junk to buy, take a moment to consider giving back to others. Pick a charity and give the amount of ‘insert item here’ instead of purchasing items you don’t really need. If that isn’t a viable option, then give your time. Boost the experience even more by volunteering shoulder-to-shoulder with friends and family. Then, don’t stop once December is over. It’s always good to help those in need. It just so happens this also benefits yourself.

Action: Find a way to give back to your community this holiday season.

Further Reading:

1. Doing good is good for you, research shows
2. Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness
3. Help others, help yourself? Why volunteering can be good for you