This is the third installment of our eight part series on holistic health.
Although the importance of community is often understated, social health plays a vital role in your holistic wellbeing.
Where and with whom you find community is up to you; it looks a little bit different for everyone. It could be found in your family, a group of friends, or even among coworkers.
It doesn’t matter what your community looks like - the real indicator of your social health is the strength of your relationships within that community.
As an introvert, I know that socializing is not always easy. Thankfully, there are many ways to practice social health that don’t involve weekly happy hours or networking events.
If that’s your thing, more props to you! But remember, it’s about the strength of your relationships, not the sheer amount of them.
Let’s look at a few pointers for practicing social health on a daily basis.
Nurture your Relationships
As with any aspect of your health, a great place to start is by taking note of where your social health stands currently.
When was the last time you checked in with the people important to you?
When was the last time you spent quality time with a friend?
With busy schedules and limited social batteries, it can be difficult to prioritize spending time with friends and family. That said, maintaining relationships, especially those important to you, is critical to your social health.
You can nurture your relationships with small acts of kindness, whether it’s a quick text or sending flowers to your mom on her birthday. There are many ways to show people that you still care even when life gets busy.
Practice Communication
Since the day you were born, communication has been an integral part of life. However, the way you communicate can have a huge impact on the health of your relationships.
For example, one key strategy to effective communication is active listening. This requires utilizing both verbal and non-verbal cues to show the person who’s speaking that they are heard.
Active listening skills can be used to strengthen any relationship, because they show the other person that they are important and that their opinion matters.
When it comes to opinions, another part of effective communication is respecting perspectives that are different from your own. You don’t have to agree with everything that someone says, but you do need to respect them as a person who has had their own unique set of experiences.
With mutual respect, disagreements can be handled in a positive manner and your relationship will grow!
Seek New Experiences
Having a tight-knit community does wonders for your social and emotional well-being, but at some point you should step out of your comfort zone.
Doing so will expose you to new people, cultures, and experiences that will allow you to both develop personally and learn more about the world around you.
Social health is about more than just interacting with those you’re close to or have a lot in common with. It’s about being able to form connections with new people and respect others who come from different backgrounds and have different worldviews.
When you step out of your comfort zone, your social health and overall wellness will thank you!
Start with Yourself
Good communication strategies and healthy relationships start with you!
Building self-confidence, practicing positive self-talk, and investing in your own emotional health will allow you to better connect with and build relationships with others.
If you’re struggling to form meaningful connections, check in with yourself first and assess the state of the most important relationship in your life: your relationship with yourself!
—
The importance of community cannot be overstated. Not only does it provide a sense of belonging and security, it also acts as motivation to take risks, try new things, and pursue your goals.
Don’t put your social health on the back-burner! If you’re looking for a health and wellness based community to grow with, bKYND has a place for you!
Comments