Similarly, random acts of kindness only make me happier while I do them, but not afterwards.
I’d count myself as non-neurotypical (and just one data point, of course) but…
I agree that RAOK are short-lived—but that short-lived time is fun enough to keep me doing it every so often. I think it also helps to see that kind of thing as a sort of game. Making it fun makes me happy when i do it more frequently (though admittedly not very often).
As to giving to charities. I don’t have a regular charity-donation because that is boring. I do, however, randomly give a years-worth of donation to charities that strike my fancy (Sea Shepherds, SIAI, Methuselah Foundation and more)
Perhaps non-optimal from their perspective, but it increases my happiness. Perhaps I’m aiming more at warm-fuzzies than utilons, but it works for me.
One of the other commentors speaks of how to combine this effectively—ie monthly setting aside the cash in “charity account” then being able to donate from this at will—which sounds like a good strategy for keeping it more fun, while still maintaining your pre-committed optimal give-rate.
As to giving in general. I realised a couple of years back that I was a bit of a tight-fist… the kind of person that never bought a round of drinks—and I have been actively working to change that behaviour pattern (eg by shouting lunch for my friends every so often, buying a plate of chips at a meetup etc). Even though I haven’t changed very much yet, I have actually noticed a marked increase in happiness—albeit fleeting… there’s a nice warm-fuzzy you get from spreading largesse.
...but the long-term effects are that I can now consider myself not to be so tight-fisted. My definition of myself is changing to one for which I have far more respect. That alone is worth the effort (for me).
I’d count myself as non-neurotypical (and just one data point, of course) but… I agree that RAOK are short-lived—but that short-lived time is fun enough to keep me doing it every so often. I think it also helps to see that kind of thing as a sort of game. Making it fun makes me happy when i do it more frequently (though admittedly not very often).
As to giving to charities. I don’t have a regular charity-donation because that is boring. I do, however, randomly give a years-worth of donation to charities that strike my fancy (Sea Shepherds, SIAI, Methuselah Foundation and more)
Perhaps non-optimal from their perspective, but it increases my happiness. Perhaps I’m aiming more at warm-fuzzies than utilons, but it works for me.
One of the other commentors speaks of how to combine this effectively—ie monthly setting aside the cash in “charity account” then being able to donate from this at will—which sounds like a good strategy for keeping it more fun, while still maintaining your pre-committed optimal give-rate.
As to giving in general. I realised a couple of years back that I was a bit of a tight-fist… the kind of person that never bought a round of drinks—and I have been actively working to change that behaviour pattern (eg by shouting lunch for my friends every so often, buying a plate of chips at a meetup etc). Even though I haven’t changed very much yet, I have actually noticed a marked increase in happiness—albeit fleeting… there’s a nice warm-fuzzy you get from spreading largesse.
...but the long-term effects are that I can now consider myself not to be so tight-fisted. My definition of myself is changing to one for which I have far more respect. That alone is worth the effort (for me).