Psychologists have studied and proven that happiness, which correlates resoundingly with emotional wellness, is strengthened by solid social connections.
Myers (2000) measured the happiness factor in people and found it wasn’t “stuff”, money/cars/toys, but social connection that resulted in the highest scores for happiness (APA.org). They found that people who had strong social connections were less vulnerable to premature death, more likely to survive a fatal illness, and less likely to fall prey to stressful events (also an element of emotional wellness, resilience!).
Think about the people you know who seem happy and emotionally well. Do they surround themselves with friends and family?
Tip #4 for Emotional Wellness: Strengthen Social Connections
A few examples of how to strengthen your social connections are (recommended by the National Institutes of Health):
- Build strong relationships with your kids
- Get active and share those activities with family and friends
- If you are a caregiver, ask for help from others
- Join a group focused on a favorite activity/hobby
- Take a class and learn something new
- Volunteer in an area that you care about
- Travel to meet new people
In today’s remote world, more workers than ever report loneliness – approximately 24% of Americans feel this way (Gallup). The loss of social interactions from working remotely can lead to unhappiness and poorer emotional and physical health.
Now is the time to test these theories!
Join a reading club, start practicing yoga, or volunteer with another like-minded group of people. You may find you fill your happiness quota and that your emotional wellbeing rises on the days that you participate!
