All friends have benefits -- health benefits, that is. Researchers at Brigham Young University found that people with social connections have a 50 percent higher chance of survival than their isolated counterparts. The study found that being socially isolated is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Time to phone a friend!
To increase your social activity, volunteer your time to a bustling center of activity, like a hospital. Volunteers at hospitals can expect to partake in tasks like manning the gift shop (selling bubble gum cigars to new dads isn't a bad gig) or acting as a translator between hospital staff and patients who speak other languages.
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Donate Blood to Gain Instant Hero Status
With a world population of seven billion, it's easy to feel like a teeny-tiny fish in a sea of fish-eating sharks. But your actions can make a difference, especially when you consider this statistic: For every pint of blood you donate, you can save up to three lives. Who knew being a hero could be so easy?
