Fill in the Blank: Giving is Good for the ____ .

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Giving is good for the ________________.

a. Soul;
b. Heart;
c. Brain; or
d. All of the above.

As you probably guessed, the answer is “d” – all of the above. One might argue that giving is always good for the soul and usually good for the heart. However, in the case of the brain, it appears that one particular type of giving can help keep you mentally young – volunteering in a social setting.

Volunteering in a social setting can help reverse or delay the decline in brain function that sometimes comes with age, according to research. This confirms what we’ve long believed. “Use it or lose it.” Whether it’s your body, your heart or your brain, you need to exercise it to keep it in peak condition.

Without exercise, your body’s muscles (including the heart) atrophy and your brain’s neural connections are lost. Volunteering in a social setting challenges your brain to stay alert and think critically, to interact socially, to react in a helpful, positive and charitable way. It adds meaning and purpose to your life. How can that not be good for you?

Volunteering in an organized social setting provides a structure to help keep volunteers motivated and involved while protecting the human dignity of the people in need. Unless you’re another Mother Theresa, one-on-one charity can be very stressful and can easily go awry.

Do your brain, heart and soul some good while doing good for others.

Pick one or more that appeal to you:

• Reading to or tutoring children.
• Helping at the local animal shelter.
• Volunteering at a hospital or nursing home.
• Cooking meals for shut-ins.
• Crafting for fundraisers.
• Participating in neighborhood clean-ups.
• Working at a community garden.

Find more volunteer opportunities at VolunteerMatch.org.

Tags: brain health, volunteer opportunities, prevent mental decline, protect your brain, exercise for health, use it or lose it, stay active, brain research