Have you ever noticed the sense of joy you get after helping someone? Many studies have shown that, in fact, helping others is an effective way to boost our own mood, and can even have a significant effect on our overall health. Giving and showing kindness towards others is also a great way to build connections with the local community and create a happier society for everyone.

Why helping others matters

According to Action For Happiness – “Doing things for others is a powerful way to boost our own happiness. It increases life satisfaction, provides a sense of meaning, improves our mood and reduced stress. It can help to take our minds off our own troubles too.” When you help someone, your brain releases ‘feel good’ endorphins, which effectively reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. For that reason, helping others is linked strongly to improved mental health. Many people who do things for others report fewer mental health symptoms and experience a decrease in feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. People who volunteer often have higher self-esteem and overall wellbeing and develop a more positive outlook on life.

Remember that helping others doesn’t have to mean giving money, there are plenty of ways to support people for free by offering your time and energy. Here are some ideas of ways that you can help people in your daily life.

Choose a career that helps people

One simple way to help others in your everyday life is by choosing a career that supports people in some way. Many people get a great sense of satisfaction and happiness from doing a job that helps others. Here are a few ideas of rewarding careers:

• Carer – You will support those in need with their daily tasks and make a real difference to their lives by allowing them to remain living independently at home for longer.
• Social worker – You will support people who are dealing with challenging situations – from divorce to addiction and eating disorders – by offering professional advice and mentoring. If you are interested in a career as a social worker, then check out the College of Social Work for the best online MSW programs.
• Nurse/doctor – You will be responsible for diagnosing and treating various illnesses and injuries, to help people recover and lead fulfilling lives. You will use your specialist skills to save lives daily.

Offer your time as a volunteer

The gift of time is often more valuable than the gift of money. Volunteering is a great way to show kindness to others and support people in your local area. If you have a busy schedule, then even just giving a couple of hours a week or one day a month will make a massive difference to others. There are plenty of different organizations that welcome volunteers; this includes elderly care homes, animal rescue shelters, national parks, homeless shelters, and charities. You can also offer to mentor and teach a range of skills in a school or prison. Volunteering is an amazing way to improve the lives of others, help the local community, and improve your own happiness and mental wellbeing.