Lifestyle Social Connections
Social connections and relationships affect our physical, mental and emotional health. Research shows that the single most important predictor of human happiness and long life is having strong social connections. Health-related measures like blood pressure and heart rate improve even with short positive social interactions. Below are some tips that may help you create and keep important connections in your life.
Forming New Social Connections
- Volunteer; helping others improves health, increases happiness and allows you to meet new people
- Connect with a community resource center to find local options
- Find online or community groups of those who share the same interests– meetup.com or Facebook groups are a great place to look
- Join a religious or spiritual group
- Help at a local animal shelter or adopt a pet to connect with other animal lovers
- Go to a local sports event, music performance, lecture or art display
- Help organize community events by joining a steering committee or board
- Attend community celebrations like parades or walks
- Take a course at your local library or community college
- Ask your employer for ways to increase social connections at work
- TIP: Look for social opportunities that improve other areas of health such as activity groups or healthy cooking classes.
Strengthen Social Connections
- Take more care to quickly connect with people you see a lot during the week
- When possible, stay positive while connecting with others
- Share new experiences
- Make and spend time with others
- Be there for those who need you
- Be flexible, supportive and excited about what others are doing in their lives
Social Connection Goals
Setting goals is a great way to increase your sense of connection. It’s often easier to achieve positive goals. An example of a positive social connection goal is, “I will increase my feeling of social connectedness by joining a group fitness class that meets for an hour, three nights of the week.”
Specific – What are you going to do to improve feelings of connectedness?
Measurable – How much time, how many sessions?
Achievable – Do you have what it takes to follow through?
Relevant – What can you actually do? (improvement over perfection)
Time-bound – How frequent? How long will you commit?
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