A Healthy Dose of Real Social Activity is Crucial For Your Well-being

Ready or not, ‘tis the season for social activity. After 3 years of some form of isolation due to COVID, we have been thrown back, full force, into social interactions. But at year’s end, we are being pulled even more firmly into everything social!

Year-end activities at work can be anything from unusually busy to super frantic; and on top of that there are holiday parties or gift exchanges or charity initiatives or all of the above. In our family lives, somehow we need to make time to shop, connect with extended relatives we don’t chat with frequently, and attend holiday gift-exchanges and gatherings of all flavors.

With so much going on, let’s pause a moment and think – how am I doing? What’s my social well-being? Creating and sustaining healthy meaningful relationships with others is defined as social well-being. In considering the different types of “people connections”, we must understand that it takes investment of your time and energy.

Connecting, Not Connections

In today’s social media-consumed world, we tend to focus a lot on how many friends, followers, and connections we have. But who are we actually spending time cultivating true connections with? The act of connecting and the feeling of real connection is what helps support our well-being. Let’s recognize the main forms of connecting:

SELF.  It all starts within ourselves, feeling a sense of connecting from within. Have you ever been in a large room packed with people and still felt a palpable emptiness – a feeling of lack of connection? It’s not just you and not your imagination: there are many reports of an epidemic of loneliness and isolation in a seemingly connected world.

PEOPLE.  This is what we typically think of when you hear the term “connecting”. It refers to building healthy supportive relationships with those in our inner circle. Your life partner, immediate family and close circle of friends.   

COMMUNITY. It’s important to our own well-being and the development of our environment to foster a genuine connection with colleagues in  our workplace and in our common interest groups.

Connections Are Not All Created Equal 

The types of connections we make with people depend on their role in your life. Intimate connections are made and fostered with the people who love and care for you. The trust factor here is naturally high as these are the individuals to whom you give most of your time and energy.

Relational connections include those people who you see regularly, and typically with whom you share common interests. We give friends, co-workers and extended family time and attention because they’re a part of our daily lives.

Collective connections could be members of your group (business networking, social club, exercise group, etc) or with whom you share an affiliation. Every human has a need to feel connected to a community. This relationship cultivates feeling being part of something bigger than yourself.

Healthy Relationships Just Don’t Happen – They Take Investment

A positive and rewarding relationship is a two-way street. Toxicity happens when there is one party that is taking more than giving; when someone is being drained rather than energized.

Honor your relationships by consciously making time to chat on the phone, share a meal and openly listening to each other without distraction. Accept and appreciate who you are and be grateful for what you’re able to share and give each other.

However, be on the lookout for a connection that’s taking a turn, where you’re shouldering the burden in a lopsided relationship. Pause and sit with your intuition and emotions: what are you feeling? Are you drained all the time? Yes, we’re all human, and even when someone genuinely loves you, it’s possible for them to want more and more. What’s happening here, and why? Address it with kindness and explore positive ways to bring it back into balance, for both your sakes.

Appreciate Different Sources of Connections

When we hold just one person or community close, and fail to nurture other relationships, we risk the feeling of being alone more easily. When that one person or community is gone, our own identity can suffer. There are many studies available that prove that those who live very long and healthy lives have an active and abundant number of social connections.

Real and meaningful social connections will benefit you with better stress management, greater empathy, improved self-esteem, and a sense of flourishing. You can also gain a stronger immune system, and suffer less anxiety and depression.

Making stronger connections is not just a “resolution” for the new year – it’s a  worthwhile goal to keep in mind throughout the year.

Did this topic resonate with what you’re experiencing right now? I welcome you to schedule a chat.