5 Steps of Wellbeing
Give to others
Participation in social and community life has attracted a lot of attention in the field of wellbeing research.
Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy.
Research into actions for promoting happiness has shown that committing an act of kindness once a week over a six-week period is associated with an increase in wellbeing.
Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:
- creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
- giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
- helping you connect with other people
It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.
Some examples of the things you could try include:
Saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you
Asking friends, family or colleagues how they are and really listening to their answer
Spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company
Offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project
Volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home
We have lots of resources on our Health and Wellbeing page!