​​​

It's the beginning of the year and time to reflect on what you would like to accomplish this year.  It may be a trip to visit family or a new destination. It may be organizing your office or starting to think about retirement. Another area to consider is volunteering to help others or donating to others. 

There are many benefits to helping others, including lowering blood pressure by triggering the reward center of the brain and lowering the sympathetic nervous system. One also gets sick less frequently, lives longer and improves one's self-esteem.  Helping Others Benefits You (healthline.com) Spending money on others has also been shown to reduce blood pressure and stress cortisol levels. Is spending money on others good for your heart? - PubMed (nih.gov)

There are many volunteer opportunities at NIH and in the community. There are committees within your departments and NIH-wide, such as the NIH Child Care Board or the Aging and Adult Dependent Care Committee (AADCC). There are various opportunities to donate to others on campus whether it be food for the Children's Inn or the Safra Lodge, Feds Feed Families or the Combined Federal Campaign. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer at local schools, senior centers, theaters and non-profit programs. Here are a few:

Volunteer Maryland

The Best Volunteer Opportunities in Maryland | VolunteerMatch

Home | DC Volunteer

Volunteer Opportunities – Thrive DC

Volunteering - Virginia Service

Volunteer Opportunities | Virginia DWR

February is National Heart Month and heart disease is the #1 cause of death for Americans.  Let's turn the tide and make this year one of improved heart health by sharing our love for others through actions and deeds for the benefit of all. Other ways to improve heart health are to increase your exercise, make your diet more heart-healthy, and reduce your stress. Let's move our hearts to make 2023 a healthy year!​