Social Wellness

Social wellness refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others. Our relationships and genuine connections really impact our personal health. A healthy social life can enhance the immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems.

It’s difficult to meet safely with your connections, but thankfully there are other ways to reach out and strengthen bonds. Consider meeting online to chat or play online games or sending a friend a letter/card on Send A Card to a Friend Day (February 7th -today!).

However you do it, think about reaching out to friends and family this month to nurture the connections you have and maintain your Social Wellness.

Here are some tips for having a great and mindful Valentine’s Day! For all of our brothers, both in a relationship and single, love and self-love are important on this holiday.

So, for everyone, practice self-care! Shower yourself with love. Consider doing some yoga, meditating, taking a bath with a bath bomb, or any other self-care activities you love. Treat yourself to flowers and chocolates, if you want. Why not?

Furthermore, reach out to your family and friends. Valentine’s Day is about love, but that love doesn’t have to be romantic! Communicate with and celebrate all the people in your life who you love.

Here are some more tips for Valentine's Day Self-Care:

- Make yourself a care package!

- Go shopping! Give yourself permission to splurge a little.

- Plan an (online) night with your friends! Rally your friends together for a game night, perhaps.

- Make a list of at least 3 things you love about yourself

We are talking about inclusion and diversity. Diversity and inclusion are important not only in the workplace but also in your personal life. Building relationships with people who come from a wide range of backgrounds contributes significantly to one’s wellbeing.

A large part of this, per the article linked below, comes down to adjusting the way you communicate, building relationships with those dissimilar from yourselves, and speaking up to challenge damaging stereotypes and prejudices.

In the study referenced in the article, they measured staff members in organizations working to develop greater diversity and inclusiveness in their offices. Using a reliable scale composed of items about coping, happiness, physical health, decision-making, being valued, talking to others, having meaning in life, and close relationships. The study shows that organizations with high levels of inclusiveness show higher levels of measurable wellbeing amongst staff members. Psychology Today found that intolerance of others and having a narrow mindset affects one’s wellbeing in such a way that could be detrimental to one’s health.

Please take a look at the article linked below for more information on the study and think about how you can better work towards Diversity & Inclusion in your life.

Today we bring you the Social Wellness Toolkit!

Split into 6 parts including Make Connections, Get Active Together, and Build Healthy Relationships, this toolkit aims to give you recommendations to develop your own Social Wellness.

In the article, there are lots of tips for developing one's Social Wellness. Here are some tips for expanding upon your own Social Wellness, but take a look at the article below for more:

1) Join a group focused on a favorite hobby (such as reading, painting, or bird-watching). There are many resources like these on online platforms such as Facebook.

2) Start a walking or fitness group with friends, neighbors, or co-workers. Challenge your connections to get out and go for a walk, or your coworker to do 10 jumping jacks after your weekly meeting.

3) Try out different fitness activities to find the ones you really enjoy. The most sustainable change involves doing what you enjoy.

4) Share your feelings with your peers honestly, and ask what you need from others.

5) Share your feelings with your peers honestly, and ask what you need from others.

6) Disagree with others respectfully. Conflicts should not turn into personal attacks.

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable

Are you on the edge of speaking up or quieting down? Watch this TED Talk for an inspiring story on getting comfortable being uncomfortable!

connecting with others

Positive social habits can help you build support systems and stay healthier mentally and physically.

taking care of yourself while taking care of others

Positive social habits can help you build support systems and stay healthier mentally and physically.

Getting active together

Being active is always better with a friend.

healthy relationships

Here are some tips for building healthy relationships.

bonding with your children

Here are some tips for bonding with your children.

healthy family habits

Here are some tips for shaping your family’s health habits: