Why being kind to others is healthier than self-care

Kindness is so powerfully beneficial for both giver and receiver that it may be essential for human survival, says science journalist Nicole Karlis.

In her new book Your Brain on Altruism, she interviews world-leading scientists who've proved that taking actions motivated by kindness benefits our brains, bodies and spirits.

"We need to be of service, that's an important part of our brain health.," Karlis tells Saturday Morning.

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While caring for the welfare of others reduces the effects of chronic stress on our brains and bodies, the individualisation and commercialisation of 'self-care' can easily add stress to our lives by adding items to our 'to-do' and 'must-have item' lists, Karlis says.

We seek out self-care practices for relief from anxiety, stress and exhaustion, but on a deeper level, we're also hoping to become more resilient, she says.

A more effective way to build this kind of inner strength is to take actions for the benefit of other people's welfare.

“From that perspective, it's wise to think of self-care as being ‘other care’ as well, and really turning your focus to caring for others in your community.”

While people who regularly volunteer in their communities enjoy longer, healthier lives, Karlis says there’s a simple act of altruism, which even people with stacked schedules can practice – not reacting or interrupting while someone else is talking.

“[Altruism] doesn't have to be some grand gesture. It can be as simple as just sitting and listening to someone.”

When people are feeling really stressed, they get stuck in rumination, Karlis says. One pretty quick way to get out of that headspace is to throw yourself into some kindness towards another person.

Not only does altruistic action help us de-stress, it has also been shown to slow cognitive decline, potentially build our immunity and reduce the health hazards associated with loneliness, Karlis says.

For her, the deeper sense of generosity and community solidarity that immediately kicks in for people when a natural disaster strikes is evidence that for our species, kindness is more than just a pleasant bonus - it's a necessity.

“It is a mechanism of survival for humans.”

To create a true "culture of caring" that we can all live in, Karlis says leaders must recognise the benefits of altruism and also meet the basic needs of people currently living with a sense of scarcity and mistrust.

On the level of personal wellbeing, those who do regular community volunteering enjoy longer lives and fewer hospital visits, she says, but “smaller, random acts of kindness” can also have a powerful, cumulative effect.

One simple way to be more altruistic at work is to keep in mind the fact that you only see a fraction of what your colleagues experience in the world, Karlis says.

“People all have lives outside of the workplace, and what happened at home over the weekend, that might affect how people show up on Monday.”

Empathetic action delivers a “gift” not only to the giver and the receiver, she says, scientists have discovered that even onlookers reap a benefit.

“Witnessing acts of kindness can evoke the emotion of awe, and we know that there are a lot of health benefits to experiencing awe, as well.”