Among the holiday traditions Americans are most looking forward to this year is giving and receiving gifts, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Healthy Minds Poll.
Thirty-one percent say they’re excited about it. That’s natural — gifts are incredibly fun. But the holidays present an opportunity for other types of giving that could make you feel great as well.
“Acts of kindness trigger a release of dopamine, the brain’s reward and motivation chemical,” Jennifer Moss, a former member of the Global Happiness Council and author of “Unlocking Happiness at Work,” recently wrote for CNBC Make It. One study found, for example, that performing acts of kindness for seven days, whether for friends or strangers, increases happiness.
Here are the activities experts recommend trying.
Try helping a stranger or volunteering locally
When you’re making your holiday plans, consider either of the following acts of service, which researchers have found contribute to your well-being:
Helping strangers, like holding open a door or letting someone merge in trafficVolunteering at an animal shelter, an unhoused shelter, an education center or anywhere else in your area
“Even simple gestures like dropping a warm drink off to a friend or sincerely thanking a retail worker can boost mood and increase feelings of social connection,” wrote Moss.
Reduce your own stress in the process
There’s evidence these acts of kindness don’t just boost happiness but also alleviate stress — which may be critical considering 41% of Americans said they anticipate more stress around the holidays this year than last year, according to the APA.
“Brain imaging shows that helping others activates reward centers and reduces activity in stress-related regions,” stress expert Rebecca Heiss previously wrote on CNBC Make It.
“When we focus on contributing to our communities, we literally rewire our brains to handle stress more effectively,” she wrote.
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