We live in a stressful world, and how we react to anxiety-provoking situations determines what effect they will have on our bodies. One of the things we can do to make ourselves feel better is to help others. In 2017, researchers at Columbia University found that supporting others during difficult times helped participants to better handle their own emotions. We can do this in two ways: validating the feelings or others or helping them to look at their struggles differently.

From smiling at someone in the checkout line to volunteering at the homeless shelter, every act of kindness has a ripple effect on the world. For many people, this means a helping career while others choose to make it a way of life. If you want to start a business or lend a helping hand, one of the fields below may interest you.

   

1. Health Care

Jobs in healthcare cover the gamut from high-paying options that require years of training to lower paying ones that offer great rewards. There is a growing demand for caregivers, for example, for baby boomers who choose to stay in their homes as they age.

 

2. Education

Whether teaching takes place in the classroom, the art studio, or the day care center, it can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others. You can teach any niche that you know well if others want to learn. Classes that you can teach in the county library or your own living room include ones like knitting, cooking, sewing, and meditation. There is also a need for tutors for students who are homebound, behind in their studies, or studying for standardized tests.

3. Alternative Health Care

Alternative modalities, such as massage, acupuncture, and yoga, are becoming more widely accepted as a complementary component of wellness. Education and certification requirements vary from area to another. In some states, all it takes to set up business as a massage therapist is a few weeks of training and a massage table.

4. Emergency Services

If you want to serve your community and stay in shape at the same time, consider a job with the police, rescue, or fire departments. Some jobs require a college degree, but others let you start at the entry level with on-the-job training. As an emergency provider, you can also provide supplementary services like martial arts training or driver education classes in your spare time.

5. Military

Serving in the military is the quintessential way to serve others, but it also provides its members with an opportunity for career advancement and education without years of paying back school loans. Besides enjoying excitement and travel, you can also prepare for a business of your own when you retire.

6. Nonprofits

Working for a nonprofit offers options that range from a few hours of volunteer service to managing a large organization. You also have the benefit of getting to know like-minded people and seeing the results of your work on the community. Some of the most successful charities were started by one person who wanted to make a difference in a small way.

7. Service Jobs

Especially in resort communities or those with aging populations, there is a need for people who can maintain lawns and buildings, make simple repairs, and provide taxi or delivery services. Housekeepers and nannies are also in demand in upscale communities with working parents. Salary and hours vary and depend on a person’s goals and skills. In many cases, you can choose the hours you want to work.

8. Specialized Jobs

Specialized workers may have completed specialized instruction and on-the-job training, or they may have been self-taught. If you have a specialized skill and a head for business, you have a choice or working for someone else or establishing your own mark in the community. One young mother turned her love of fashion into an online business.

Benefits of Helping Others

Helping others gives us a sense of purpose and makes us happier and healthier people. When we are generous, our acts spread to others, multiplying the good we do and encouraging others to do the same. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “It is in giving that we receive.”