Category: Well-Being

The benefits of volunteering or helping other people seem to pay off for the giver and not necessarily the receiver.

Providing tangible help to others protects your health and may lengthen your life, according to a 5-year study by researchers at 3 universities.

The lead researcher Dr. Michael J. Poulin, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Buffalo, says, “Giving assistance to others may offer health benefits to the giver by buffering the negative effects of stress.” The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Here’s why giving works. The study subjects were people from Detroit. They told researchers they had experienced stressful events during the past year such as serious illness, burglary, job loss, financial troubles, or death of a family member. They also reported the amount of time they had spent in the past year helping friends, neighbors or relatives who did not live with them. They did errands, shopping and housework. They also provided transportation, child care and other tasks.

The researchers concluded that helping others reduced the risk of illness and death by protecting the givers, even though they themselves had significant life stress. The social interaction was an important factor.

Rain, fog, snow, ice, and sleet-all the challenges of winter driving. You can’t control the weather, but you can take care to be prepared (and spend less than $30 to be safer), say auto claims experts from MetLife.

*  Cold weather can cut the life of a car battery in half. Buy a battery tester for less than $1, and check the health of your battery to make sure you won’t be left stranded out in the cold.

*  Check to see if your antifreeze is at the recommended 50/50 ratio of antifreeze to water to protect your car’s cooling system from freezing. Buy an antifreeze tester for less than $2.

*  Properly inflated tires guarantee the best possible contact with the road, giving you more control. Check your air pressure to make sure it matches your tire guidelines. Air pressure drops as the temperature drops.

*  If your windshield wipers leave a streak across the windshield, it’s time to invest in winterized wiper-blade refills (around $7).

*  Top off the windshield wiper fluid and always carry an extra gallon ($2).

*  Buy an ice scraper and de-icer for about $2 to break up any ice that might be blocking your vision or clogging your locks.

*  If your car is stuck in snow or ice, have a folding snow shovel (about $7) and a bag of cat litter (around $2) handy to dig yourself out and provide traction for your tires on the slippery surface.

*  Keep free stuff from your home in your car: old blankets, hats, gloves.

Everyone knows someone who has been through depression. Yet it’s not something we’re used to talking about over coffee break.

If you suspect that someone is depressed, what do you say? You’re not a doctor, and you certainly can’t diagnose. But you can offer some encouragement, say mental health experts:

*  Be understanding: “I know you’re suffering. I know you’re in pain.” “Have you thought about talking things over with your doctor?”

*  Be supportive: “It’s okay to take your medicine.”

*  Maintain as normal a relationship as possible: “How about lunch? My treat.”

*  Pay genuine compliments: “Great new haircut.”

*  Show respect: “Nice work on that report.”

Treatment works, but it won’t work if people are not encouraged to see their doctor in the first place. Seeking treatment is a sign of strength. It’s the first step toward feeling better. Yet all the medicine in the world won’t be enough without support from those around you.

Know what to say and when to say it. Be present to help someone put depression in their past.