WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WHILE BOOSTING YOUR SOCIAL LIFE? Mental Wellness The Downside of Loneliness and Upside of Connection The key is to carve out time for personal connections. Recent health research has shown that people who feel isolated by not regularly connecting with friends and family, are at a higher risk for health issues as opposed to those who stay more connected. For example, resear cher s a t t he Un i ve r s i t y of Chicago found that loneliness has double the impact of obesity on early death and is more harmful to your health than smoking and high blood pressure. Yes, more than smoking!
In addition, those who find themselves isolated from others with few real con- nections have been found to have a higher risk for: • Disruptive sleep • Elevated blood pressure • An increase in cortisol, the stress hormone • Higher rates of depression Regular connection on the other hand, strengthens your immune system and can have up to a 50 percent change in having a longer life. Now there is no excuse to put social connecting at the bottom of your weekly to do list! Connecting can be time spent with your par tner, meeting in person with your friends, or being an active mem- ber of a group. Here are some ways to incorporate more connection in your life: COMPLETE ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR OTHERS I t is a posi ti ve way to get to know someone better when you can assist them somehow.
JOIN A GROUP WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE
Use websites like MeetUp.com to find others who enjoy similar sports or hobbies.
REACH OUT TO TRUSTED FRIENDS OR FAMILY AND ASK FOR HELP
This action can take a relationship deeper and be mutually satisfying for the other person if they can ask for help from you as well. SCHEDULE TIME TO MEET A FRIEND FOR A MEAL OR INVITE THEM OVER Doesn’t have to be fancy – even a shared cup of coffee, cooking or or- dering food in, or meeting at a casual restaurant is a fun way to connect. VOLUNTEER Look for ways to volunteer your time to worthwhile organizations. You can start with Volunteermatch.org to find opportunities near you.
2 |
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online