The health benefits of giving back to the community | HCF

‘People who are striving to improve their happiness may be tempted to treat themselves to a spa day, a shopping trip, or a sumptuous dessert... they might be more successful if they opt to treat someone else instead.’

Une étude351 longitudinale du bien-être de milliers de bénévoles pendant de nombreuses années a permis de montrer un effet causal: quand une personne fait plus de bénévolat, tous ses indicateurs de bonheur et de bien-être augmentent (en moyenne). Et ils restent élevés aussi longtemps que le travail volontaire fait partie de la vie de la personne. L

As I get older, I am more and more concerned about nurturing a community around me, and happy to invest my time and energy into it – whether that’s my friends, family, neighbourhood or further afield. Even that is a selfish unselfish act in a sense. Doesn’t everyone yearn deep down for a sense of belonging?

Carrying out five random acts of kindness a week dramatically improves your happiness.