When people give to charity, they may think that only the beneficiaries will benefit from the donation. However, this is not entirely true, as the donor can also experience certain benefits from donating. This may not be in monetary terms, but these benefits should not be underestimated—particularly when it comes to an individual’s health.
People have often felt fulfilled or pleased after donating to charity. Donating to charity can bring a sense of fulfillment and happiness to the donor, especially when they understand how their donation can impact another person’s life. However, in this article, we will take a closer look at the numerous health benefits that charitable donations can deliver to the donors themselves.
Triggers a Happy Feeling
There is a happy feeling that comes with putting a smile on another person’s face through giving. Ordinarily, knowing that you are the reason a vulnerable individual has some happiness leaves a good feeling. This has even been scientifically proven. Giving a gift to another person can trigger the secretion of hormones such as endorphins, oxytocin, and dopamine.
These hormones are generally called “feel-good” hormones and are known to improve mood. More specifically, as you give, the part of your brain known for pleasure is activated. You are surely bound to have better health with all these hormones triggered as you donate to charity.
Improves Self-esteem
Low self-esteem has been associated with people being more about themselves—an ego-serving tendency. On the other hand, self-esteem is reported to improve as an individual becomes more selfless. Moreover, your self-esteem is boosted as you come to terms with making a difference in the life of a person who needs support.
And the good thing about it is this high self-esteem remains sustained for some time. This means you can always fall back on that philanthropic act to break out of the unpleasant mood. But if you really want to keep your self-esteem at the top, you should find one or more charity organization(s) to give back to.
Reduces The Risk of Being Depressed
Donating to the needy may be all you need to beat depression. An excellent pointer to this is people who decide to give something to charity after losing a loved one. This reduction in the risk of depression can also be linked to the secretion of the hormones mentioned earlier. The mental state of the person is ultimately improved as s/he gives back. In fact, a peer-reviewed study revealed that people who are depressed are less likely to give.
Creates An Avenue For Attaining Good Physical Health
You should have already grasped how donating to others can help your physical health from the abovementioned points. But there are even more health benefits attached to giving. Providing support to others has been associated with lower blood pressure, among other benefits. It may be safe to say that giving back is good for cardiovascular health.
A study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University revealed that the rate of cardiovascular risk is reduced by volunteering for a charity cause.
It has also been suggested that volunteering can reduce the incidence of dementia in older adults, and this comes as cognitive ability is improved. A newer 22-year study of nearly 18,000 adults found that helping others slows cognitive decline, with the strongest benefits for people at the highest genetic risk of Alzheimer’s. Again, generosity could serve as a stress management measure for those who engage in such acts.
Evidence suggests that volunteering for a charitable cause can enhance functional health. Overall, people who are committed to giving have their quality of life boosted significantly.
Promotes Social Connection
We live in a world having people with diverging needs, and it may take some form of sharing to realize this. Humanitarian aid workers at the forefront of providing relief understand this very well.
But away from that, you can relate with others through the simple act of giving, and the trend continues with others. It is on this premise that a social connection is forged.
Increases life expectancy
It’s worth noting that donating to charity can increase life expectancy—have you ever considered that? This seems plausible based on the other health benefits mentioned earlier. A study conducted by a team from the University of Michigan showed that people who provided support or help to others lived longer than those who did not.
The overall effect increases over time with every act of giving embarked on by an individual. According to a study, volunteers who donated to two or more charity organizations were less likely to die within a 5-year period.
It is interesting to note that the volunteers were 55 years old and above. So, you may consider committing more to charity as you grow older. This will help keep you healthy and happy.
Getting in on the act
You don’t have to wait till it’s giving season or until a charity organization comes appealing before getting in on the act [of giving back]. You can start looking for where help might be needed around your locale. That aside, you can even be as simple as supporting a neighbor or colleague. You can also commit monthly or yearly to some charitable causes. But beyond the monetary aspect, you can give back in the following ways:
- Commit some time to help out at a food bank
- Give out those old furniture pieces
- Select some of your thick or high-neck clothes and donate to the homeless during this wintery season
- Plan a volunteer day with family, friends, and colleagues and visit a charity
- Share the unique skills you have got with vulnerable people—children, especially
- Talk about a charity to your organizations or friends
Conclusion
From all you have read in this article, donating to charity has tremendous health advantages. The good feeling one gets from it alone is a luxury, not to talk about the longer life expectancy and how it helps to lessen stress.
As you keep giving to those in need, even if they can’t repay you, you’ll still get some health benefits. So, why not consider being more intentional about your charitable giving from now on?
