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Humans are naturally social creatures who have spent time together in social groups since the time of the cavemen. It’s important to feel socially connected and have a healthy social life, as it can impact your overall mental wellbeing.
Part of your mental wellbeing is something known as social wellbeing, which means having positive interactions with others and the world around you. This is crucial to living a balanced and happy life, but it’s not always easy to achieve. With that in mind, Wellbeing365 take a look at how to achieve and practice a healthy social life.
Becoming socially healthy
Being socially healthy is a key part of having a positive attitude and having a sense of belonging. It can make you feel stable in your relationships and in your day-to-day life, which in turn has a huge impact on your mental wellbeing. Socially healthy means you have an awareness and empathy towards others, as well as being able to effectively manage your emotions.
However, having these characteristics doesn’t always mean you are able to practice a healthy social life. It’s important to remember that a social life takes effort and time to build quality connections with others, and balancing those connections with everything else that is going on in your life.
Maintaining a good work and home life balance
Busy schedules can often make you feel as though you’re being pulled in many different directions. One of the best ways to achieve a healthy social life is to ensure you find a good balance in your life. Find time for family and healthy habits such as cooking and exercising, as well as spending time with friends and socialising. While this can feel difficult if you also have a full-time job, it’s important that you try your best!
It’s easy for one aspect of your life to overtake the others, such as working too much and not leaving enough time to catch up with friends and family. This can quickly lead to increased stress and other mental health issues, so it’s important to achieve a balance where you can.
Find connections with similar interests and lifestyles
You can achieve a healthier social life by surrounding yourself with like-minded people. You can do this by joining a local club, taking up a new hobby or volunteering for a cause you feel passionate about. This can put you in an environment where people are likely to hold the same values as you.
Building these kinds of quality connections can make a huge difference to your sense of belonging and can also help you feel a part of something.
Use the technology available to you
Don’t forget that you can stay in touch with people through the likes of phone calls and video calls too. This has been a huge help for those who have family and friends who live far away, giving you the chance to catch up in the comfort of your own home. This has been especially important through the pandemic, giving people a chance to stay connected with each other.
Social media can have a positive or negative impact on your life depending on how you use it, so be sure to utilise its best features by keeping in touch with friends old and new.
It’s important to talk
As well as having fun and socialising with friends and family, having those social connections is so important for the times when you don’t feel quite yourself. It’s healthy to talk to your loved ones when you’re feeling down or stressed, as they are often the ones who can pick you back up again.
Having a healthy social life means being able to connect with your friends and family through the good and the bad.
