By Natalie Clark
Tracey Bratton, LSCW
Social wellness is about making healthy connections and developing healthy relationships. According to an article at the University of California, Davis at Student Health and Counseling page,
“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.”
Humans are social creatures. We were created to interact with and support each other. Scientific studies have shown that our connections to others can protect overall health and can contribute to longer life spans.
Are you finding your social calendar to be a bit underwhelming? This is a great time to focus more on developing healthier social habits. Developing healthy social habits can assist you in improving your support network, and can contribute to overall health and well-being.
If socializing is difficult for you, you’ll find some tips below to assist you in improving your social wellness:
- Find new avenues for making social connections
- Join a group that focuses on a hobby you’re interested in
- Take a community education course
- Volunteer
- If you’re a caregiver, take care of yourself as you care for others
- Make sure to reach out to others and let them know you need help
- Make to-do lists and delegate tasks to others that you don’t your personal attention
- Keep yourself nourished, hydrated, well-rested, and be sure to exercise
- Improve your physical health as you improve social connections
- Start a walking group with friends
- Try new physical activities
- Join a yoga or Tai chi class
- Shape your family’s health habits
- Be a role model
- Make healthy activities fun
- Offer healthier activity and nutrition options
- Bond with family members
- Praise children for healthy/good behaviors
- Perform random acts of kindness for and with family members
- Find things that you can enjoy together
- Interview an elderly family member about his/her history
- Build healthy relationships
- Set healthy boundaries
- Be open and honest about your emotions
- Be a compassionate and non-judgmental listener
- Treat others how you want to be treated and expect the same in return
Remember, we are social creatures and we need each other. We all need to find ways to strengthen our support systems. Improve your social wellness and you will improve your overall health and well-being while adding years to your lifespan.
References
Author Unknown. (N.D.). Social wellness. University of California, Davis at Student Health and Counseling. Retrieved from: https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/wellness/social
