A Wholesome Route to Happiness: How We Can Gain by Giving
What makes us happy? Seeking meaning in our lives, a good work/life balance, spending time with family and friends and fulfilling our potential are all important, but being generous also proven to have a hugely positive effect on our happiness and wellbeing.
Here, we worked with the team over at travel gift brand Flightgiftcard, who outlined easy ways to make generosity a daily ritual and boost our own happiness in doing so…!
Volunteer in your community
How well do you know your neighbours? More than just a quick hello if you bump into each other? Being part of a real-life ‘social’ network leads to feelings of belonging and community, and by focusing on helping other people we feel good in return. Check out Volunteering Matters for programmes across the UK. Get to know local people and watch your neighbour network expand.
Put pen to paper
If you enjoy the almost forgotten art of letter writing, then consider taking part in the Silver Line Letter Service to exchange handwritten letters with a Silver Line Friend. This voluntary programme connects elderly people with pen pals. All you need is a pen, some paper and the enjoyment of writing and receiving letters and making friends.
Friendship goals
No matter how busy life can be, there should always be room in your life for your friends. Be generous with your time, especially if a friend is down, going through tough times or just needs some company. A catch up over coffee, a walk in the park or a movie night can do wonders, and will release feel-good endorphins, whether you’re lending a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, or just hanging out.
No more food waste!
Before you throw food away, consider using the Olio app, where you can upload your unwanted groceries and donate them to a family in need or local charity. Sharing surplus food is good for the environment and for your conscience, and helps you connect with neighbours and local people.
Meaningful travel
Coming face-to-face with new cultures and people different from ourselves makes us more open-minded, tolerant, and shows the world in a new light. Increasingly, travel is a way to gain authentic experiences and give back, whether that’s helping protect wildlife or volunteering to help a community. Done the right way, meaningful travel can boost our happiness. Visit Rickshaw Travel for authentic holidays with a focus on sustainable, meaningful tourism.
Practice gratitude
A bad day at work, a delayed train, or just rainy weather, can all serve to put a dampener on our mood, but taking time at the end of the day to be thankful for what we do have and the great things in our lives can help put our problems into perspective.
A simple way to practice gratitude is to sit down and make a weekly list of five things that you’re grateful for. Having a deeper appreciation for something, or someone, can lead to greater positivity and optimism in the long run – all feelings equated to happiness.
Celebrate good times
A promotion, a birthday, engagement… whatever the celebration is, the next time a friend or family member has good news, make that person feel loved and special. We all need to be celebrated and spoilt occasionally, and a party is a great way to bring everyone together. Showing your nearest and dearest your appreciation and care will make them happy and their gratitude and enjoyment will inevitably please you too.
Donate
Don’t let clothes or shoes lay dormant in your wardrobe for months (or years). Sort through your stuff and donate any unwanted items to charity or a clothes bank. Likewise, donate or find household items through the Reuse Network, which helps to reduce poverty, lower emissions and tackle waste, and has so far helped 1.5 million households across the UK. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, and giving away your things could make all the difference.
It’s the little things…
Holding a door, giving someone your seat on the bus or train, listening to a friend, paying someone a compliment, donating to a friend’s charity cause, gifting away unused items, or simply being kind… The smallest actions can often have the biggest rewards. Start small by building generous acts into your day, and before you know it, it will become second nature.