The Season of Giving Can Be The Season of Self-Care

The holidays are upon us and we’ve all heard this is the season of giving. Yet that doesn’t mean it is a time to neglect self-care.

Research shows that giving doesn’t just brighten someone else’s day, it can have real impacts on your physical and mental health. It can lower blood pressure and be good for your overall cardiovascular health. It can even help you live longer. All while also bringing you a bit of joy in the process.

How exactly does this work? One study found that people are more likely to give if they understand the need they are fulfilling, suggesting that part of it has to do with our sense of purpose and fulfillment. Yet more fundamentally humans are a social species and I believe that we get joy from seeing others get joy because that process strengthens the social bonds that are so important for us.

These social bonds can also be powerful tools for managing your mental health, which reinforces why giving can benefit our overall well-being. It is also our social nature that makes emotions so contagious. The more happiness is around you the more likely you are to catch some happiness yourself.

In other words, don’t be a Scrooge this year.

And lastly, remember that the season of giving can always include giving yourself the gift of self-care. That has plenty of mental health benefits as well.