Do Good, Feel Good: 4 Simple Ways to Give Back to Others (and How it May Boost Your Wellbeing)
You've heard of the motto Do Good, Feel Good, but there may actually be more to it than just a clever saying. In fact, not only does it feel good but research has shown that doing good for others may actually boost your health and wellbeing.
How so? According to the Cleveland Clinic, giving back to others can boost your mental and physical health‚ including increased self-esteem, lower stress levels and simply feeling happier. It‚s so powerful that psychologists have even dubbed this elated feeling as the "helpers high."
In honor of World Humanitarian Day on August 19th ‚ an annual day celebrating people helping people ‚ we wanted to help inspire you to do good in your community. This week on the Vibrant Health blog, we‚re sharing four simple ways you can help others (and feel good doing it!)
4 Simple Ways to Do Good & Give Back to Others
- Shop From Companies That Give Back
- Make a Home-Cooked Meal for Someone in Need
- Donate Your Old Clothes to a Good Cause
- Volunteer Your Time
- Shop from Companies That Give Back
One way to start giving back to others is to be a bit more conscious when it comes to where you spend your money. Do your research, and put your dollars toward companies that give back to others ‚ especially if it‚s a cause near and dear to your heart.
Here are Vibrant Health, we believe everyone has access to a vibrant life. That‚s why we‚ve teamed up with Farmacy for Life to donate $1 of every purchase from our new Vibrance superfood powder to Vitamin Angels (a nonprofit providing vitamins to underserved pregnant women and children). With each purchase, we‚re able to provide nutrients to four women or children in need, as we focus on building a healthier future!
- Make a Home-Cooked Meal for Someone in Need
They said food is love, and one of the best ways to do good to others is through crafting a home-cooked meal.
Get involved in your local community bake sales or food drives raising money for those in need, or team up with a nonprofit organization like Healing Meals Project ‚ a local Connecticut organization dedicated to preparing healing meals for individuals recovering from acute health issues.
- Donate Your Old Clothes to a Good Cause
As you transition your wardrobe over from summer to early fall, now is a great time to start sorting through your closet, cleaning out what no longer serves you. Give your clothes a new life by donating them to a local shelter.
The Salvation Army is great for donating goods (from clothes to household appliances) and organizations like Dress for Success make it possible for you to donate gently used professional clothing, empowering low-income women to get a fresh start in work and in life. Don‚t toss those old bras hanging around either; consider giving your gently used bras to Free the Girls, committed to helping survivors of sex trafficking find freedom and make a living.
- Volunteer Your Time
You don't need to spend large amounts of money to give back and make a difference. Volunteering is a great way to spread kindness, and it can have a big impact on your mental health to boot. According to Project Helping, research found 94% of people who volunteer say that the act of volunteering improves their mood.
From volunteering at a local soup kitchen to helping out at a senior center, there are endless ways to volunteer your time (while making a difference for yourself and someone else‚s life).
DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a competent health care professional. You should not use this information in diagnosing or treating a health problem. No claim or opinion in this blog is intended to be, nor should be construed to be, medical advice. If you are now taking any drugs, prescribed or not, or have a medical condition, please consult a competent physician who is aware of herb/drug interactions before taking any herbal supplements. The information presented herein has not been evaluated by the FDA or the Department of Health and is not intended to diagnose, prevent, cure, mitigate or treat any disease or illness.