9 reasons why being nice is good for your health

Simple acts of kindness = big health rewards

By Katherine Schreiber

The next time you're inclined to share nasty gossip, scowl at a coworker, or be outright rude to the person holding up the checkout queue with small talk, consider this: being mean can drag down your health.

But, conversely, kindness can actually add years to your life span. It also gives you a quick pick-me-up when you'd rather punch a wall, or stress eat too. Here are nine ways small acts of benevolence boost your physical and mental health.

1. When you're nice, stress doesn't affect you as much

Expressing affection to someone else — particularly someone you love — can protect your nervous system from the anxiety of everyday life. In 2007, Arizona State University's Kory Floyd tested how much of the stress hormone cortisol cropped up in 15 men's and 15 women's spit after each were exposed to several stressors. Following the awful tasks, a handful of participants were then asked to write letters to someone they loved listing all the reasons they felt so fondly toward them. Letter writers' saliva showed markedly lower cortisol levels than those who didn't get the chance to express affection.

The researcher's conclusion? The simple act of telling a person you love them can make you more resilient in the face of hassles, frustrations, and physical discomfort.

2. After being kind, you go to bed happier

A team of psychologists from Yale University led by researcher Emily Ansell sent daily mobile phone check-ins to a group of 77 adults ranging from age 18 to 44. For two weeks, participants reported each night how many stressful events they experienced (from work and family issues to interpersonal frustrations and health-related problems), how many kind acts they performed, and whether their overall mood felt positive or negative.

The more instances participants helped someone else out in a day — even by simple feats, like holding a door open — the lower their stress levels were come bedtime and the happier they felt, overall.


3. Be lovely = get ill less often

Research suggests people who devote more time to meaningfully helping others have lower markers of inflammation coursing through their bloodstreams and stronger abilities to ward off infections. Inflammation is linked to a host of diseases— including cancer and diabetes. Lower your risk by reviving your inner volunteer.

4. Your cholesterol improves when you're considerate

The very same task of writing a nice little note of affection in point 1 — not only to your other half but also to your friends or to your family — was also found (by the same researchers, in a separate study) to lower levels of 'bad' cholesterol in college students.

5. ...as does your blood pressure

Lower your blood pressure by forgiving someone you're still holding a grudge against. This (admittedly challenging but uber-rewarding) act has been linked tolower blood pressure. Whether it's a random spat with a fellow commuter, a long-held resentment toward a relative, or a lingering gripe with a work colleague, try letting them off the hook for the benefit of your heart.


6. Pain doesn't bug you as much

Showing yourself some compassion can help take the edge off physical suffering. Over 100 patients grappling with chronic pain were assessed by psychologists in 2011 for how severe their agony felt as well as how accepting, open, and understanding they were about their conditions. Those who demonstrated a gentler attitude toward their bodies — by not shaming or getting mad at themselves for not feeling better — were less incapacitated by their anguish than those who railed against their hurt or didn't cut themselves a break.

7. Being kind makes you more attractive

A group of men and women were asked to judge the attractiveness of 60 expressionless photos of female faces in a study conducted by Yan Zhang and colleagues at China's Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Participants pegged the pics whose subjects the researchers described with kinder qualities (i.e., 'decent,' 'honest,') as much prettier than shots of gals the researchers described as 'hostile' or 'mean.'

This isn't to say you should bite your tongue if you have nothing nice to say. But these findings are a testament to the power of a gentler approach to, well, just people in general.


8. Other people like you more

When you're nicer to people, they're more inclined to inclde you, letting you into their emotional lives, and returning any favours you offer. Simply dropping a few more thank-yous can do the trick.

Social connectedness is a huge factor when it comes to keeping our bodies and minds in top form. People who feel they belong to a group live longer, think clearer, and face a lower risk of heart disease than their lonelier counterparts. They're also more optimistic, less depressed, and don't feel as anxious. Consider kindness with others one giant leap towards rocking your next annual checkup.

And while in-person experience always trumps digital, even Facebook can trigger that warm feeling of belonging. (Provided you don't overdue it.) Compliment someone via your newsfeed today in lieu of cutting into a celebrity's appearance and see how much better you feel.

9. You're more productive when you're thoughtful

Employees in companies who endorse a more compassionate office culture (not living in fear of a micromanaging boss or fretting that your colleagues are all out to get you) have been shown to work more effectively, be physically healthier, and feel more motivated to pump out good work. How to make it work for you: if that intern just isn't hacking it, try taking the pressure off her a little — and show an interest in what she does outside of the office — to see how she improves!

(via Cosmopolitan)


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