Social Connection

Social Support: Jen and Sarah discuss how social support and connection affects your mental and physical health.

Episode Outline/Takeaways

• Social connection is often a neglected or overlooked pillar of health.

• Health-related measures like blood pressure, stress levels, and heart rate improve with social connection.  Your overall happiness also increases even with short, positive interactions.

• Social media is not a replacement for this.  This type of connection often leads to comparison when viewing everyone’s “best life” version instead of reality.

• Gossiping also is a pseudo-connection as it does not foster trust or deeper connections.

• Spending time with people where you are engaging in unhealthy behaviors is another pseudo-connection that does not help

• You want to have fun and create deep, meaningful connections.  You want to be in flow, be connected, and feel playful.

• Volunteering at an animal shelter, joining a book club, joining a religious/spiritual group, joining a walking/hiking group, and doing workshops are all ways to connect with people in a positive way.

• Goal setting can be done for this, especially when you get specific.  For example: I will increase my social connection by making sure to meet with my once monthly book club consistently for the next 6 months.

•  Even introverts need social connection and interaction.  Find small ways to increase your social connection without making it stressful or exhausting for yourself.  Try virtual co-working spaces like being on a Zoom call together while getting individual work done to where you feel like you are with people even though you are alone.  Even something small like working at a coffee shop and interacting with the coffee shop workers can help.

• Try to hit multiple pillars of health at the same time by eating a healthy meal with a friend or going on a walk together.

• Don’t be afraid to reach out to your healthcare provider or therapist if you are feeling isolated and lonely.  They can help get you on the right track.  

Takeaways:

Social connection is really important for both psychological and physical health.  This is true regardless of your personality type.

• Foster the relationships that help you be your best self and engage in healthy behaviors.

• Multi-task by trying to hit multiple pillars of health by engaging in a healthy activity with friends to add the social connection component in at the same time.

Intro/Outro Music Credit: Corner Store Breakfast by Reasonforworry