July Wellness: Social Wellness Month

Social connections might help protect health and lengthen life. Scientists are finding that our links to others can have powerful effects on our health. Whether with family, friends, neighbors, romantic partners, or others, social connections can influence our biology and well-being.

During Social Wellness Month in July, break out of your fixed routine and vow to meet new people. This is because social wellness is all about your capability to bond with others and build satisfying relationships. Why is this important? “Well, the fact is, the more people you meet, the more likely you are to develop new hobbies and embark on journeys you never even imagined you would be a part of” (National Today. “Social Wellness Month- July 2024.”) Volunteering is a great way to meet new people who have a like-minded interest and is a great icebreaker for making connections.

Another connection is getting active together which can improve your social wellness but also increase your physical activity. Increased activity can improve your health, mood, and energy levels, but sometimes, the inspiration to get moving may be lacking. Friends, family, and other social connections can help motivate you to add more movement to your life. Shared physical activities can be joining a local softball or soccer team or can be as simple as planning a lunch break walk with co-workers once a week.

Socialization is important for everyone but can provide stress relief for caregivers and parents to share their struggles and accomplishments with their loved ones. Forming and maintaining relationships is a lifelong skill and it’s important to know what a healthy relationship looks like and how to keep your connections supportive.

To Build Healthy Relationships:

• Recognize how other people influence you.
• Share your feelings honestly.
• Ask for what you need from others.
• Listen to others without judgement or blame. Be caring and empathetic.
• Disagree with others respectfully. Conflicts should not turn into personal attacks.
• Avoid angry outbursts, violent behavior and being overly critical .
• Expect others to treat you with respect and honesty in return.
• Compromise. Try to come to agreements that work for everyone
• Protect yourself from violent and abusive people. Set boundaries with        others. Decide what you are and aren’t willing to do. It’s okay to say no.
• Learn the differences between healthy, unhealthy, and abusive ways of relating to others.

(Source: National Institutes of Health, “Social Wellness Toolkit”.)