What the heck is social wellness? It’s actually pretty important to our health, according to leading researchers at top institutions, such as Mayo Clinic. July is social wellness month because this is so important to us.
Social wellness is our place in our community of choice. It is our social network, our community, our support system. It can be family, but isn’t necessarily. It is our religious community, our gym buddies, our Taco Tuesday buddies, our book club, our mom’s group, our Wednesday Wine group, or any other group we belong to, really. According to the University of Minnesota, studies have shown that people with strong social group connections live longer, have improved cardiovascular, endocrine and immune systems, and deal much better with stress. Who couldn’t use those benefits?
Lately I’ve been feeling very disconnected. I’m sure the pandemic has done that to a great number of us. So as “outside” starts to reopen, how can you get connected again?
- Find a hobby. Get active in it. For me, my hobby is weightlifting. So I go to the gym. There’s other like-minded people there. I also searched groups on FaceBook that are into the same thing. Try it. See if anyone is local to where you live, and maybe meet up and have a workout buddy for a session. Grab coffee or something after, and SHOW PERSONAL INTEREST in that person! They likely need a friend and connection just as much as you do.
- Get outside. Walk the dog after work. In my case, I walk my cat (who loves it, by the way) and walking a cat is definitely a conversation starter! Ask personal, but not TOO personal questions. Don’t be crazy, don’t get put on stalker status immediately. But talk about the weather, how busy you were (or weren’t!) at work, the pets you’re walking, whatever. Don’t make the conversation awkwardly long – they might cross the street to avoid you next time they see you! Be the friend you want to be.
- Volunteer. Just like finding a hobby is good for your physical health, volunteering is Ahhh-mazing for your mental health! Find a cause you can be passionate about. If you struggle with that, look for one that is always advertising for help, that you don’t oppose lol. But seriously. Who CAN’T support feeding the homeless, or cleaning up the streets, or donating clothing to a shelter? Ooooh! Volunteer at the animal shelter to feed/water the animals or play with them! You’ll find people that are giving of their time & energy as well, and you might find you can get really passionate about the cause you just randomly picked.
So tell me. How do you get connected? If you’re feeling a little down, how do you WANT to get connected?
Essentially Health & Wellness 