6 Ways to Boost Your Helping Habits

"Just last year, a survey of 4,500 American adults showed that 73 percent agreed that "volunteering lowered my stress levels," 89 percent reported that "volunteering has improved my sense of well-being," and 92 percent agreed that volunteering enriched their sense of purpose in life. These benefits are available even -- or perhaps especially -- to those in the midst of crisis. A recent study by my colleagues Stephanie Brown and Dylan Smith found that people who'd been widowed recovered from depressive symptoms more quickly if they helped others. And research led by Maria Pagano has found that alcoholics who helped others during chemical dependency treatment were more likely to be sober over the following year." Stephen G. Post, a professor of preventive medicine, shares his suggestions for boosting our helping habits.

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