Want to know why spending time with friends and family feels so good, as well as the best ways to socially interact? Claire Muffett-Reece has the following advice
“There’s so many different ways to socialise – and there’s so many different ways it’s good for your health, too”
“Don’t forget about the importance of social connections giving you the opportunity to share how you’re actually feeling, providing you with emotional support in the process”
“Any recreational sport or game such as football – be it walking or running – promotes the importance of working together toward common goals, as well as keeping you socialising in the process”
“Spending time together in nature is also a great way to socialise, not to mention the fact that it’s been shown to improve mood and reduce stress”
Facts/stats
Thirty eight per cent of people who exercise with a friend are more likely to work harder at getting fit
(Mirror)
People with solid social connections have a lower risk of depression than those who lack strong social and emotional support2
(Verywell Mind)
Loneliness is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and a susceptibility to infection
(University of Cambridge research)
Who doesn’t like spending time with friends and family, be it a quick catch up over coffee, a trip to the shops – or even over the phone when you live too far away to meet on a regular basis. There’s so many different ways to socialise – and there’s so many different ways it’s good for your health, too. For a start let’s look at the physical advantages that come with socialising. Loneliness is linked to higher blood pressure and stress that can harm your cardiovascular health, with making and keeping connections reducing the risk as well as inflammation. Then there’s how staying social is good for your bones, with research showing that feeling stressed from not keeping in contact actually decreases your bone mass density, in turn making you more susceptible to fractures. Want to maintain a healthy weight? That’s right; here socialising is again key, thanks to support from others shown to improve your diet and weight management. It’s also been suggested that connecting with others in various social activities can delay the onset of dementia for up to five years. Studies have even found older adults who have close friends and healthy social supports are likely to live longer than their peers who have fewer friends.
Moving on to the advantages of socialising when it comes to your mental health now. Maintaining a good presence within your community has been shown to lower mental health rates, independent of how deprived or affluent a neighbourhood is; while sharing experiences with others – or even jokes – triggers the release of endorphins, building self-confidence as well as self-worth. It also works to reduce feelings of isolation in both men and women, with females more likely to experience anxiety when they feel disconnected from others. And don’t forget about the importance of social connections giving you the opportunity to share how you’re actually feeling, providing you with emotional support in the process.
You’ve read about the many physical and mental advantages socialising has for your wellbeing – but what ways are there to ensure you properly keep in touch that are also proven to further help how you feel? Here’s just a few simple options to consider.
DINNER’S ON ME
No, that doesn’t mean forking for meals out – although we’re sure those you dine with would be more than grateful! In fact, it’s the importance of eating together to stay connected, with shared meals combatting loneliness due to a more relaxed setting where conversation can easily flow. Food can also be used as a tool to start up a conversation with a stranger – a piece of offered cake at a group you’ve never been to before is a perfect way to break the ice, thereby feeling less intimidated in the process. Research has also shown that socialising over meals makes you more likely to eat more fruit and vegetables, as well as reducing the likelihood of young people becoming overweight or obese. However, it’s important to set boundaries in place before you all enjoy a meal to ensure you really are socialising. Turn off the TV if it’s in the same room, with watching a screen leading to a feeling of isolation as you’re no longer interacting as you would when it’s not on. Similarly, have a ‘no phones at the table’ rule, with phubbing – the term used when people ignore each other due to paying attention to a mobile – undermining the enjoyment of what would otherwise be face-to-face interaction. However, you can still bond as a family through technology, so long as you time it right. A movie night is one such example, fostering emotional intelligence, strengthening family bonds, and creating a supportive environment for open communication. Just not when you’re eating at the dinner table, please.
ARE YOU GAME?
Before teenagers or younger adults rush off to switch on their consoles in the confinement of their rooms, this is very much not what we had in mind. Unless, of course, you really aren’t able to all get together, with a study revealing 84% of the Gen Z population saw video games as a way to establish connections with like-minded individuals (just don’t tell them though). We’re instead talking about good old-fashioned board games, which again bring people together while also problem-solving as a team that’s working towards a common goal – which is, of course, to win. Fancy some outside games instead? Go for it; any recreational sport or game such as football – be it walking or running – promotes the importance of working together toward common goals, as well as keeping you socialising in the process. Speaking of getting out and about, spending time together in nature is also a great way to socialise, not to mention the fact that it’s been shown to improve mood and reduce stress. How to go about it? Go on a walk or hike with friends or family: not only are you socialising, but the physical work of a walk stimulates the growth of new brain cells. A bike ride is another great way to get people together – or why not consider really spending time outside with a camping stay? Besides the fact by disconnecting from technology improves focus, concentration and creativity, a recent survey showed that 73% of campers believe it to be a great way to make new friends.
MUTUAL INTEREST
How else can you socialise in a world where more and more people work from home, and with more and more choosing to connect mainly through social media? Ironically you should start by turning to those social channels, seeing if there’s any groups or chats in your local area for those with a shared mutual interest. It’s easy to locate somewhere specific close by that you’re interested in joining – joining a social club alone boosts community cohesion and gives people a sense of belonging. There’s plenty of other ways to find people interested in the same hobby as you, from noticeboards in local supermarket and libraries to online apps and even volunteering in an area you’re interested in. In fact, volunteering is a great way in itself to socialise, with 89% of volunteers surveyed agreeing that they’d met new people in doing so, with a further 78% seeing them make contact with people from different backgrounds. You might also now ask yourself whether there’s one sort of hobby over another that’s a better way to socialise. Our answer? Aim for ones that involve group activities and that encourage you to really get out and about. Because hiding behind a screen and your front door is no way to keep in touch with the ones you love – and meet new people in the process.