Be social for better mental wellness

One of the biggest challenges during the past year and the COVID-19 pandemic has been maintaining social wellness. According to University of California, Davis, “Social wellness refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others. Our relationships can offer support during difficult times. Social wellness involves building healthy, nurturing and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you.” Social wellness is key to both physical and mental wellness. So, why do we need to be social for better mental wellness.

How does social wellness impact us?

Being social is beneficial to our physical and mental wellness. Isolation is harmful to health and is similar to the effect of smoking, high blood pressure and obesity. People with positive relationships respond better to stress as measured by heart and blood pressure. Developing a strong social network leads to a healthier endocrine system and better cardiovascular functioning. Healthy socializing boosts the immune system.

What does healthy socializing look like?

Social wellness refers to a very specific way of socializing. It is very important when talking about our social network and relationships to focus on the quality and not necessarily the quantity. It involves spending time with people you are comfortable around and people with whom you can be your true self. There are times when it is necessary to distance ourselves from toxic relationships or negativity in order to maintain our wellness. Take a look at those you spend time with and aim to invest in those relationships which are deeper and bring connection. You want to be with people who appreciation your authentic self.

Realize your responsibility in building your social network

The person you are responsible in relationships is yourself. There are things which you can do which will improve the health of your social relationships.

• Invest in your relationships – This requires taking the time to make connections with those we love. It also requires us to be authentic and vulnerable if we are creating true connection.
• Take part in groups with similar interests – If you love to read, join a book club. Is gardening your thing? Volunteer at a community garden. When you start at a place of commonality, it is easier to find lasting friendships.
• Reach out to those in need – Giving of ourselves increases our openness and empathy for those around us. You can volunteer for a local charitable organization, your faith community, or for organizations serving the underserved. Helping someone often ends up benefitting us as much as it does them.
• Make time for family – We can be born into our family and we can also choose family members as we go through life. Make time for your family….especially your immediate family. Childhood goes quickly. If you have children, you want to make sure to establish healthy relationships. For those chosen family members who we think of as aunts, cousins, or sisters, set aside special and intentional time as well.

Ways to build social wellness

There are many ways to grow our social network. Most of them begin with knowing ourselves and being willing to learn new things. If you have a hobby such as crafting, find a group to join with similar interests. Think about the life-stage you are in and find those who are in it, too. When I was a young mom, our mothers of young children group was absolutely critical to my sanity and mental wellness. Follow your passion. If you love the outdoors, think about volunteering at a local park to maintain trails. Spending time with people who share your enthusiasm will lead to social relationships. Don’t forget old friends you have lost touch with and pick up the phone or send a note. Re-establishing relationships is an excellent way to build your social network over time. And finally, pay attention to your closest family members. Take time for a date night with your spouse. Plan a special day out with each child to get to know them individually. Remember, start with knowing yourself and then reach out in authentic ways.

Social wellness is a gift which lasts a lifetime

The people we surround ourselves with have a lasting impact on our lives. We all need to take the time and attention necessary to invest in these relationships. If I have learned nothing else this past year during COVID-19, it’s how it feels to not have my regular social network. It is so easy to take our friends and family for granted…until we cannot see them. The entire world experienced this together. Let’s hope we can remember how much our wellness suffered as a result and make changes in our lives and priorities to be social for better mental wellness.

To read more about our 8 Ways to Wellness read this blog post. And don’t miss out on our FREE resource, 8 Quick Ways to Boost Wellness, which you can get here.