For those participating in DASHA®’s 7-Week Summer Wellness Challenge and other members of the DASHA® community, this week we are focusing on the physical health benefits you can gain by giving back to your community. When we say, “enhance your well-being,” we mean all of you, from head to toe, inside to outside, and beyond, into the world around you. Everyone has different jobs, financial means and personal responsibilities, but the great thing about giving back is that you can find a way to incorporate it into your life on your own terms, whether it’s through donating money, volunteering your time, or starting your very own charity. And the good news is that giving back actually improves your health. Here’s how:
It reduces your risk of heart attack. Cardiac arrest has been highly correlated with the amount of self-reference (“I,” “me,” “my”) in your speech. Forget about you for a moment – you are never the most interesting person in the room. Listen to and connect with others and help your heart while you’re at it.
It decreases your susceptibility to the common cold. Being socially connected to your community actually decreases your risk of catching a cold.
It raises the count of your antibodies. Being generous makes the levels of your antibodies surge – just through your focus on giving to others.
It lessens your stress. Giving back signals the “off” switch for the adrenal gland, which produces the stress hormone cortisol. And when your cortisol is down, so is your anxiety and depression.
It lessens your physical pain. Reaching out to someone in need releases endorphins, thereby decreasing the intensity of any chronic pain you may suffer from. It has the added benefit of increasing your happiness as well.
Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Send us a picture of you donating money, spreading awareness or volunteering your time this week – post it on Facebook, or tweet it to us @dashawellness. Use #DASHA®week2.
DASHA® wellness & spa is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit dashawellness.com.
