We all know how good it feels to do something to help out someone in need, but did you know that studies have revealed that kindness can positively change your mood, and even your brain?
According to the research, doing something kind for others boosts your body’s serotonin and dopamine (the neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction) and causes the pleasure and reward centres in your brain to “light up”, with the phenomenon being dubbed the “helper’s high.”
Endorphins – the body’s natural painkiller – can also be released when performing acts of kindness.
Here, some simple ways you can feel good, and help out others in need.
Donate
If you’re hard-pressed to find the time to volunteer, then why not donate to a worthy cause, like Ronald McDonald House Charities? A small act of kindness, such as a donation or volunteering, can have a massive impact on Ronald McDonald House Charities and the lives of seriously ill and injured children.
McHappy Day is taking place this year on Saturday, 19 November, during which $2 from every Big Mac sold will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities, which aims to help seriously ill children and their families stay together and close to the care they need.
You can show your support by heading into your local McDonald’s restaurant and purchasing $2 or $10 Helping Hands, or $5 silly socks, or by making a making a donation online. Last year, McHappy Day managed to raise a whopping $5.2 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities – that’s one mega helper’s high!
Be kind
Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can actually have a great impact. For example, you could buy the person behind you in the coffee queue a coffee, and ask them to ‘pay it forward’ to ensure many people’s days are randomly brightened.
Or, offer someone your seat on the train, hold the door open for the family behind you at day-care just because it’s a nice thing to do, give your son or daughter’s team mates a lift home from footy, netball or basketball to help out another parent, or share some of the herbs and veg’ from your garden with a neighbour. Get the drift? All of these acts of kindness will make you feel good, and the receiver.
Smile!
If you don’t have the time or means to donate or volunteer, here’s a simple way to make someone’s day that doesn’t cost a thing – smile!
According to Psychology Today, studies show that smiling is linked with reduced stress levels, increased health, endorphin levels, and lowered blood pressure – and it’s also said to be contagious – so go on and flash those pearly whites and feel the love.
Volunteer
If you’re keen to roll up your sleeves and help out those in need (and get those warm and fuzzies that come with it), you could lend a hand to support seriously ill kids and their families by giving up some of your time to volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The families RMHC help require a wide range of services and support, which is why they rely on volunteers with many different skills, whether it’s meeting and greeting guests and families, general cleaning and tidying of the House, gardening, setting up and assisting
Shifts are available 8am – 11am, 11am-2pm, 2pm-6pm and overnight (6pm-8am) weekdays and weekends, so there are plenty of options when it comes to finding time to help out – and the fulfilment of helping out a family in need is well worth it.
Brought to you by McDonald’s McHappy Day.
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) is again calling on Aussies to dig deep and help seriously ill children and their families with the return of McHappy Day on Saturday 19th November in McDonald’s restaurants across Australia. McHappy Day is crucial in raising funds for the charity, which helps keep families together while their seriously ill child undergoes treatment.
You can also help raise money for RMHC by purchasing the below from your nearest McDonald’s restaurant.
From October 26 – November 19:
○ purchasing a pair of $5 Silly Socks, or Helping Hands for $2, $10 or $50 from your local Macca’s or via McDelivery
○ Make a donation online.
On McHappy Day (Saturday, November 19):
○ Buy a Big Mac from your local Macca’s or via McDelivery, with $2 from every Big Mac sold going directly to RMHC.
○ Make a donation online.
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