Ways to Support Your Social Wellness
Did you know that your social wellness can have a direct influence on how long you might live?
In fact, research has shown that loneliness and isolation can have a bigger impact on everyone’s life span than obesity! If you’re wondering why our social wellness is so important then continue reading further.
What is Social Wellness?
Human beings by nature are social creatures. We need social connections to survive because it's our connection to people that work as our support systems when life gets hard and help us to improve our quality of life. Social wellness is a sense of belonging to our community, it’s a means of claiming social circle through which we develop and embrace healthy interpersonal relationships in our lives.
Why is Social Wellness Important?
Let’s think about this… Have you ever made plans with your friends only to later regret making them because you would rather sit on your couch and binge-watch Netflix than go out? For argument’s sake, let’s cue in some peer pressure and lack of good excuses that could help you get out of the plans you’ve made. Now, since you’re left with little to no choice, you somehow must muster up the strength to get off the couch, get ready and go out with your friends.
The result? You end up having an epic night out! One, that goes deep down in your memory bank filled with stories that you’ll be telling and retelling in the years to come.
Social Wellness is kind of like that epic night out. You don’t realize what you might be missing out on and how meaningful that experience could be until you start to feel lonely and isolated.
In times of uncertainty, it’s our network of people that keep us grounded and sane. And being mindful of how we cultivate our social relations is equally as important!
In times of uncertainty, it’s our network of people that keep us grounded and sane. However, being mindful of how we cultivate our social relations is equally as important as the relationships themselves. Consider the following tips when you reflect on your social wellness.
How can you Improve your Social Wellness?
Reflect on your social needs – the first step of social wellness begins with some honest self-reflection. Are you happy with your current social wellness? What aspects of your social wellness are working and what are some aspects that require some fine-tuning? These questions will not only help understand your current situation, but the answers will give a starting point for improvement. (Dive a little deeper on social wellness here.)
Reaching out and meeting new people can sometimes be scary because it takes you out of your comfort zone, but if you can’t try, you’ll never know what you’re missing out on.
Reach out and make connections – reaching out and meeting new people can sometimes be scary because it can be out of your comfort zone but, remember that epic night? If you don’t try, you’ll never know what you’re missing out on. To help you get started on making new connections and getting involved - check out Sheridan Student Union and Sheridan Bruins. (More on this here.)
Build and stay in healthy relationships – this begins with you being mindful of ‘healthy’ vs ‘unhealthy’ relationships. Some relationships affect your mental health negatively while other relationships can uplift and ground you. The essence of a healthy relationship lies in trust and happiness. So, when you’re building new relationships think of those people you can count on and support you. (We’ve got a few more tips for you here!)
The essence of a healthy relationship lies in trust and happiness. So, when you’re building new relationships think of those people you can count on and support you.
Active listening and communication – Lots of relationships fall apart because of a lack of communication between people. Being able to effectively communicate your feelings while respecting and understanding others is a vital component of social wellness. (Check out this article for more on social skills.)
Do what’s right for you – everybody is different, and everyone has different needs. In the process of improving your social wellness, don’t conform to societal ideals. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide what feels right to you. (More on mental wellbeing here!)
This was written in collaboration with your Sheridan Student Union, SheridanLife Radio, and Sheridan Wellness and Counselling Services.
We recently hosted a live session about How to Reimagine Your Summer Bucket List! Here’s how your fellow student leaders are taking care of their social wellness this summer: