How being kind and helping others benefit your health and happiness, as a volunteer and psychologist explain

Janet Middlemiss, a British public relations and events specialist, has found that assisting others is integral to maintaining a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. For the past two decades, she has been actively involved in community work, focusing on aiding marginalized groups and individuals who are often neglected by society. Volunteering, she says, has been an enriching experience that has strengthened her connection with the community and provided her with a sense of purpose and identity.

Middlemiss has been volunteering for the non-profit organization HandsOn Hong Kong, where she has taken on various roles such as reading to children from underprivileged families, delivering essential items to the homeless, and caring for animals at a pet shelter. She also dedicates time each week to assist children with special needs at Mother’s Choice. Middlemiss views volunteering as an act of self-kindness and finds the knowledge that she is making a difference, no matter how small, to be deeply satisfying.

Numerous studies have highlighted the health benefits associated with acts of kindness. These benefits include stress reduction, increased self-esteem, and improved optimism. Furthermore, kindness can also decrease the risk of certain health conditions. Clinical psychologist Dr. Joyce Chao emphasizes that even simple gestures of kindness can significantly enhance mental wellbeing. Middlemiss echoes this sentiment, incorporating acts of kindness into her daily routine, such as holding doors open for others or offering her seat on public transport to those in need.