How well do you interact with people around you? Think about your communication skills, the relationships you have with others, self-respect and respect for other people, and your support network of family and friends. It’s a balancing act between personally caring for ourselves and caring about our surrounding community and society as a whole. With effective communication our personal and professional relationships may offer the support we need during complicated times.

Whether you are a social butterfly or prefer to let others do the talking, open communication is important to ensure that we not only communicate our thoughts and feelings to others, but to listen attentively and empathetically when others share with us. Social wellness crosses over all aspects of our lives including professional, family and fun. The development of a positive social network helps to increase self-esteem and may build emotional resilience. Social wellness has both short-term and long-term effects. I’m sure many of us can recall the positive effect friends have had on our mental and physical health. And likewise, there those who struggle with social wellness when friends aren’t around or communication and relationships are suffering.

Social wellness can be nurtured in many ways. Here are some ideas that may help this along:

1. Choose your relationships wisely. Rekindle old friendships. With social media, it’s easy to find those friends we have lost touch with other the years.

2. Nurture relationships with people who are respectful, positive and supportive.

3. Be your own unique self. Try not to conform to others to fit in. Find your own people!

4. Go to the gym, the park, or an exercise studio where you are likely to find others working on physical and mental wellness. Plan to meet them at that location at a set time each week.

5. Do you have any hobbies? There are lots of community groups who might share your interests. Find them and take the first step by going to a meeting.

6. Many of us are passionate about a cause. If you have found your passion, try volunteering. If not, take some time to find out what does interest you.

7. Plan a regularly scheduled time to meet with a friend or group of friends.

8. Organize a spa day with a group of friends or colleagues

9. Date nights! Plan time with your significant other or family to just go out and enjoy each other’s company.

10. Become a member of a club or a group (church, special interest, moms morning out, etc.)

11. Join a professional organization. There will be a lot of people interested in the same thing you are there for.

Social wellness takes intention, energy, time, care and effort. It is something that requires our attention throughout our entire life. Put this at the top of your list!

(OPI, 2017)