6 ways kindness can change your life for the better

VOLUNTEER

Spending time helping out someone who really needs it offers up a whole range of feel-good feels: it’ll give you a sense of purpose, make you feel part of the community, boost your self-esteem and may even combat feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. It’ll even make you feel healthier.

Volunteering can be anything from getting involved in classroom reading at your child’s school or arranging a meal tree for a sick friend, to registering with an organisation to cook or deliver meals, visiting people who may be socially isolated, or walking dogs at your local animal shelter.

DONATE TO CHARITY

If you’ve got the means, donating money to charity is another wonderful way to practice kindness. Studies have also shown that people who make donations have lower blood pressure and reported an increase in self-esteem, and a decrease in feelings of depression and stress. 

It also promotes generosity – seeing others give makes you more likely to give yourself. When we donate money (or our time or belongings), the reward centre in the brain is activated. The result? When we display true altruism, we feel happier. 

AIA Vitality members can donate their weekly Active Rewards vouchers to our New Zealand partner charities, such as Trees That Count and The Mental Health Foundation.

find out more about AIA Vitality Active Rewards

GIVE BLOOD

According to NZ Blood every blood donation has the potential to save three lives, and can be used towards a variety of medical treatments, including cancer, obstetrics and road accidents – talk about the epitome of kindness! Along with benefiting people in need of healthy blood (not to mention, saving lives), giving blood may also improve your emotional wellbeing and reduce negative feelings. If you’re unable to donate blood, why not think about volunteering instead?

TACKLE A SPONSORED RUN

There are so many benefits to getting involved in a community event like a fun run. Not only can you raise money for charity, everyone chucking a few dollars your way will feel the good vibes that giving brings too. 

You’ll also get all the benefits associated with exercise and getting out into the great outdoors. We’re talking improved fitness, that boost of motivation that comes with setting a goal (and achieving it), and the community spirit of running, walking, swimming or cycling alongside a group of people who are just as keen to make a difference. Round The Bays is an annual event where you can raise funds for registered charity partners.

SNIP OFF YOUR PONYTAIL

Around 4000 ponytails are needed every year to make wigs and hairpieces for people living without hair. So instead of letting your ponytail get swept up and dropped into landfill next time you’re getting a new do, why not donate it to a charitable organisation who can turn it into a wig and improve the life of someone experiencing illness? You’ll look good, and feel even better. 

ADOPT A PET

Kindness can also extend to our four-legged friends. Give a very good boy or girl a home by adopting a rescue animal from your local shelter or the SPCA. Animals give you unconditional love, and owning a pet gives you an enormous sense of purpose – after all, you’ve saved a life! When you rescue a pet, especially a dog, you’re improving your own health and fitness, due to all those morning walks and Frisbee throws at the park, plus you’ll be meeting people in your community who can’t walk past your pooch without stopping for a pat.