Most people would agree that giving to others is a good thing. In addition to this, giving can also improve your mental wellbeing.
Small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community, can give you a sense of purpose. It can make you feel happier and more satisfied with life.
Sometimes we think of wellbeing in terms of what we have, our income, our home or job, but evidence shows that what we do and the way we think have the biggest impact on our mental wellbeing.
Tips and ideas
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, as linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
Give is one of the Five ways to Wellbeing, evidence based steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing developed by the New Economics Foundation. The other ways are: Connect, Get Active, Take Notice, and Keep Learning. Take a look at our other tips for staying well.
