Sharing is Caring:  3 Ways Giving is Good for You

Based on calculations by some of the largest charitable organizations in the world, the average person donates about 3 to 5 percent of their gross income every year.  Are you on par with these averages?  If not, you may want to think about stepping up your charitable donations.  Research has shown that sharing really is caring; when you donate to a cause, you can receive many benefits for yourself and the people around you.

1.  Donating Can Improve Your Health

We all know that eating well, exercising, and receiving annual check-ups are all great ways to improve your health.  However, did you know that helping others in need can also boost your immunity?  According to a study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University, people who volunteer or give money to charity reported having fewer colds than those that did not.  Other studies have shown that giving to charitable organizations increases health benefits of people with chronic illnesses such as HIV and multiple sclerosis, and those that give out emotional support have a lower risk of death than those who do not.

2.  Giving Can Boost Your Mood

In a study conducted by the National Institute of Health, researchers gave participants $100 and asked them to either donate or keep the money.  Based on the results, people who chose to donate a portion of their money activated more pleasure centers in the brain and were ultimately happier after the experiment than those who decided to keep all their money.  One reason why giving to charity helps people feel better is because it is linked to a reduction in stress hormones.  When we’re less stressed, we feel happier and healthier.

3.  Helping Out Can Motivate Others

Some people say that it takes a village to promote social change and take down the problems of today.  So, it’s a good thing that helping out is contagious.  When people are informed of charitable contributions, they are more likely to donate.  Producer Elliott Broidy utilized the power of film to draw in support for youth homelessness in America.  After watching Broidy’s film “Sugar,” people were more motivated to donate to charitable organizations tackling homelessness.  This is because they saw the conditions surrounding teen homelessness in the movie and were also moved by the producer’s own interest in bringing communities together to fight homelessness.

Donating to charity has a significant impact on the people and organizations you are giving your money to. However, it will also have a massive impact on yourself and the people around you. If you own a website, consider getting a free donate button to promote giving.