Today is Giving Tuesday, which is held every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
As the name suggests, people are encouraged to give back to their communities.
“Giving back, volunteering, donating, this is a win-win situation,” said Dr. Susan Albers, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic. “Not only does it improve the lives of others around you and communities, it also has benefits for you. It helps your mental and your physical health.”
Albers said studies have shown that people who volunteer have increased happiness, lower blood pressure, longer lives and less depression.
She explains that when we give to others, our brains release neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and endorphins, and that in turn makes us feel good.
Giving back doesn’t always mean donating monetarily, Albers said there are plenty of ways to help those in need.
You could volunteer your services.
For example, if you know how to knit or crochet, you could make some hats or scarves, or if you enjoy cooking, lend a hand at a soup kitchen.
“Giving and volunteering is the antidote to all the commercialism and materialism during the holiday season,” she said. “It is one way to remind you of the true spirit of the holidays and help you to reset from the shopping, the business, all of the stress of the holiday season.”
Albers adds that you could even get your kids involved in volunteering and make it a family tradition.