It’s the holiday season! Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or another holiday, you are probably giving or receiving presents. However, giving does not merely include presents. It also includes volunteering for/donating to different organizations and offering emotional support to friends and family around us.
When you give to someone, it becomes a win/win situation. The receiver receives a token of your gratitude and you get all the health benefits that come with giving!
Here are a couple of reasons why giving is good for you:
- Giving decreases stress levels. As a result, it may help improve physical health and longevity.
- Giving lowers the risk of depression.
- Giving allows us to connect with others. Once you give, that generosity is passed along from one person to another. Also, it helps create a feeling of trust with other people and allows us to feel closer together.
- Overall, giving makes you happier. Giving gifts helps release different chemicals in our brain, such as serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin (aka the Happiness Trifecta!) Any activity that increases the production of these neurochemicals causes a boost in one’s mood.
By giving presents or your time, not only does the giver (you) and the receiver generate feelings of gratitude, but you will also be healthier!
