It’s the wonderful time of year when giving is on our minds, and many contemplate ways that they can serve others and help provide for those in need. And there’s good health news to add to this kinder of seasons: it turns out that all this doing good is good for you! 

Some worry about the health detriments of the holidays, but by joining in the spirit of the season, giving either time or money, you can reap both physical and emotional benefits.

Of course, giving back to the community in any way helps make it a better place to live and spreads goodwill around. Many who volunteer or donate have the intention of helping others, but just about anyone you ask will also say that they get something in return. It’s common sense that those who give of themselves also receive.

Research conducted on giving and volunteering provide proof for what is mostly common knowledge — there are real and statistically significant health benefits to doing good. 

Not too surprisingly, the connection between emotional health and volunteering is very strong. In surveys conducted among people who volunteer, there are lower rates of depression (especially in the older population), and better scores on emotional wellbeing measures, including a sense of purpose and overall life satisfaction. 

Giving time or money doesn’t only improve one’s emotional health and sense of wellbeing, though. It actually has a measurable positive impact on physical health, too. We know now that there is a strong connection between emotional wellbeing and physical health. It is because of this interplay between the inner sense of well-being and the physical body that volunteering and giving have such a strong effect on health. 

People who regularly volunteer report feeling physically healthier, and are more likely to say that their health has improved over the past year. Stress was reduced, blood pressure lowered, and volunteers were more likely to take an active role in their own health.

In older adults, volunteering was shown to stave off loss of mobility and early death. Research looking at volunteering rates in states found that states with more volunteering had lower mortality rates and less heart disease. 

Everyone benefits from volunteering, but the research has seen a larger health impact on those who continue to volunteer later in life. That doesn’t necessarily mean to put it off until an older age, though, because young people who volunteer will be less likely to suffer from ill health later in life. And they’ll be able to continue volunteering, and continue to reap those benefits as they age.  

However you look at it, giving helps both givers and receivers in important ways, and can be a big part of what makes this time of year special. 

So, when it comes to health and happiness during this Christmas season, here’s a perfect holiday recipe: Eat healthily. Move more. Sleep enough. Volunteer and give.