Improve Your Mental & Physical Health By Focusing On Kindness

Along with the helper’s high we’ve already talked about, you can gain a lot of other health benefits from being kind on a regular basis. Both your physical and mental well-being are impacted in a positive way when you get into a habit of being generous toward the people around you. Let’s take a look at just some of the ways you can benefit, as well as the people you help.

Reduce Anxiety

When you’re feeling anxious or nervous, it’s natural to want to be alone and away from people. However, it often helps to push through and get out among people. Especially helpful is if you go do something for someone else. This takes your attention away from yourself. It’s actually been shown to improve positive affect, which is the inclination to feel positive emotions such as happiness and joy. Positive affect is boosted through taking action.

Improve Heart Health

You know those warm fuzzy feelings you get from doing good deeds? They actually cause a reaction that’s good for your cardiac health. When the feel-good hormone oxytocin is released, it triggers the production of a chemical known as nitric oxide, which then flows into the blood vessels and causes them to expand. This leads to a reduction in blood pressure, which protects the heart.

Lower Stress

Engaging in prosocial behaviours, or those that are done on someone else’s behalf, has been linked toward a reduction in stress. Being kind to people improves your relationships. It also just makes you feel good. What you may not realize is that closer relationships can help you to improve your coping mechanisms and reduce the impact that stress has on you. This is great news for your emotional and physical health.

Slow Aging

Oxytocin is a great hormone. It aids in so many beneficial processes. Oxytocin is released whenever you take part in an activity that involves emotional warmth and positive connection. Therefore, even small acts of kindness can elevate your levels of the chemical. We’ve seen how this wonder hormone aids in improving heart health. It also plays a role in reducing inflammation and the production of free radicals, which slows the aging process.

There you have it. Science and research show that acts of kindness can actually have a positive effect on your health. Both your emotional and physical well-being can benefit from taking the time to do good for others.

What's the Difference Between

Anxiety & Panic Attacks?

Download our free printable workbook with writing prompts that will help you learn the difference between worrying & anxiety disorders, how to control your anxiety symptoms & how to speak to loved ones to get the help you need.