What if there is something in our everyday lives that can transform our whole health and well-being?

Something that can decrease the risk of developing and worsening:

• Heart disease
• Anxiety
• High blood pressure
• Dementia
• Depression
• Diabetes

It exists. It’s something that needs to be cared for, invested in and nurtured, by each one of us.

It leads you to be healthier, more prosperous and resilient.

That something is called social connection

Social connection is the number, variety & quality of your relationships and interactions and whether these meet your needs.

So the next time you are thinking of skipping on time with friends of family in favor of a solo Netflix binge, pause and think about it. Investing time in relationships not only helps you, it helps those you meet up with and so on, ever increasing circles. Pass on the ripple of connection.

If you are inspired or intrigued and would like to learn more a short list follows below. I can also highly recommend reading “Together” by Vivek Murphy – the 19th U.S. Surgeon General

Together – The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World

Further info on how to nurture your social connection listed below

1. Invest time in nurturing your relationships through consistent, frequent, and high-quality engagement with others.
2. Minimize distraction during conversations to increase the quality of time you spend with others.
3. Seek out opportunities to serve and support others. Try helping your family, friends, and community members or participating in community service.
4. Be responsive and supportive and practice gratitude. Reflect the core values of connection in how you approach others through the actions you take and conversations you have.
5. Actively engage with people of different backgrounds and experiences to expand your understanding of and relationships with others.
6. Participate in social and community groups such as fitness, hobby, professional, community service organizations and faith based groups to foster a sense of belonging, meaning, and purpose.
7. Reduce practices that lead to feelings of disconnection from others.
8. Seek help during times of struggle with loneliness or isolation by reaching out to a family member, friend, counselor, health care provider, or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.