Spend time helping others! On a recent episode of the Nudge Podcast, host Phill Agnew referred to a study showing people feel happiest when socializing with family or friends. Additionally, his guest on the podcast, UCLA’s Professor Cassie Holmes, explained we crave feeling productive and having a sense of purpose. Giving some free time to help others is magical, enhancing feelings of senior happiness, productivity, and purpose.
For elderly individuals with a lot of time on their hands, a day alone spent in front of the TV can lead to feeling dissatisfied. At the end of the day there’s no accomplishment, nothing to show for how those hours were spent.
Enhance senior happiness by planning fulfilling ways to spend some free time. Start with opportunities to gather face-to-face with family and friends. We were made to live in community. Then look for ways to do things for others. Could you make a pie and take it to a neighbor? Could you help serve lunch once a week at your local senior center? If you live in a senior community, can you volunteer some time to help with social functions? Do you have a green thumb and can help in a community garden?
Even on days you’re not physically able to be with others, there are valuable ways to spend some of your free time. Catching up with an old friend on the phone can bring back wonderful memories for the both of you. Remember the “lost art” of letter writing? Bet there are people in your life who would love to receive an unexpected card or letter from you!
Surprisingly, Holmes said the people in a study who spent some of their free time helping others reported feeling like they actually had more time than others who didn’t take time to help others. People felt like they had accomplished a lot when they had spent some time helping others. They also felt like they had more time in general.
Spending time helping others is what we do at Sunlight Senior Care. And yes, providing home care for disabled or elderly individuals brings happiness – to both our clients and our Caregivers!
