Good Karma: Doing Favors for Others Can Lower Your Stress Level

And it can extend your life!

When you do good deeds for others, it actually reduces your own stress levels, according to a new study. Though research has show that stressors--like losing a job or a loved one--can worsen your health and ultimately shorten your life, doing favors for others can lengthen it. Among the 846 adults in this study, those who helped others were less likely to die in the five years that followed a major blow, and for those who didn't, every stressful event they experienced led to a 30 percent greater risk of death. Bill Coplin, Ph.D., author of How You Can Help: An Easy Guide to Doing Good Deeds in Your Everyday Life, says you can smart small: be the designated driver, make lunch for a co-worker, or split oversized groceries with a neighbor. (Today)

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