Today is the final day of Social Wellness Month, so I’d like to take the opportunity to share some ideas about social wellness and how to achieve it. Social wellness embodies self-care and nurturing your relationships with others. It means giving and receiving social support, both of which have therapeutic benefits. This kind of relational support and mindfulness enhances your quality of life and offers comfort in times of need.
Social Wellness relates to treatment ideas to combat the growing epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. Recently, it has been shown that experiencing loneliness can be as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, so maintaining positive self-care and building strong interpersonal relationships is as important as ever.
Social Wellness is about accepting your thoughts and feelings, while also focusing your attention on the present moment.
Making sure your social wellness is in check can be quick, easy, and incredibly rewarding. Ask yourself:
Do you ever feel lonely?
Do you spend enough time with friends and family?
Do you make time for taking care of yourself?
Are you able to turn off work mode when you’re not at the office and enjoy other parts of life?
If you aren’t happy with some of your answers, the good news is you can change them by making a few lifestyle changes! This summer, I have made a more conscious effort to work on my relationship with myself and with others. Here are some of my tips and tricks to reap the most out of Social Wellness Month.
1. Make an effort to call, rather than text.
This may sound silly, but actually talking to someone over the phone rather than shooting them a text has a lot of relational benefits. By showing the person that you want to talk to them, and by giving them your undivided attention, it allows for the conversation to become much more meaningful. There’s also a lot less room for miscommunication about tone or meaning, like there often is when you’re texting. You might be surprised how making such a simple change can have such a positive impact on your relationships.
2. Get Active!
Everyday after work, I go on a run. Running is one of the ways I engage in self-care; and, I plan the runs into my schedule so that I don’t make any excuses for myself. While the list of health benefits of running is long, a few include overall improved mental and physical health, stress relief, and even a positive impact on mood. If running isn’t your thing, try another form of exercise such as walking, swimming, or biking. Physical health affects mental health, so taking care of your body will make you feel better than you think
3. Try Something New!
This summer, my friends and I decided to start a book club. It’s been a great way to incorporate reading into my life; especially because it’s so often deprioritized amongst my other responsibilities. The book club also unites me and my friends in a way we’ve never connected before. Trying different activities and signing up for clubs are great ways to meet new people and maybe even find unexpected passions.
4. Write in a Journal.
The health benefits of journaling are tremendous. There are so many ways to journal, whether it’s writing bullet points about your day, writing random thoughts in a notebook, or doodling about that day’s activities, journaling improves your communication skills and helps to keep your emotions in check.
5. Invite someone you miss out to lunch.
Do you ever scroll through Facebook and see someone you were once close with but lost touch for no specific reason? Make the effort to reach out, catch up, and see how they’re doing. Strong interpersonal skills and relationships depend on making small actions to show our friends we care. Plus, it’s always great to rekindle a relationship with a long lost friend.
To learn more about the public health crisis of social isolation and the importance of social wellness, read this article by our flawless colleague, Donato Tramuto!
