Building Stronger Connections: A Key to Social Wellbeing

Social wellbeing is the way that someone can communicate with others and build relationships with others while being themselves freely. Social connections can be with many different people such as family, friends, coworkers and other members of the community that you trust. Having all of these connections can help you feel supported, valued, and validated and create a sense of belonging. 

Social wellbeing helps contribute to our mental health, emotional balance and even our physical health. The connection you build with those around you can help decrease stress and increase joy.

In this post, you’ll learn how to improve your social wellbeing by building stronger connections, strengthening relationships, and fostering a sense of belonging.

How Can we Improve our Social Wellbeing?

In an age of technology where there is more disconnect with others around than ever before, it can be difficult to improve our social wellbeing. This can lead us to feel disconnected and as though life is racing past us. 

Strengthening Relationships

If you already have current relationships with friends, family or community members around you, make an effort to stay connected with them. Regular meet-ups or check-ins with friends and family members that involve conversations that are deeper than small talk can help nurture these relationships and strengthen bonds with those around you. 

Joining a Community

Joining a community can help create and build a sense of belonging. Searching around your area for a club, hobby group or volunteer opportunities that are relevant to topics that interest you can be a way to begin to create connections with others. Engaging in activities or hobbies that are shared between you and others can help deepen connections and create new connections as well. If you are struggling to start talking to those in your community, you can get some tips here.

Practice Active Listening

Social wellbeing is built on good communication skills, and active listening can help facilitate social wellbeing. When speaking with those around you, give them your full attention. You can do this by making eye contact, avoiding interrupting them and asking relevant and thoughtful questions about the topic of discussion. The act of active listening shows the other person or people that you value what they are talking about, and this can lead to the strengthening of your relationship. 

Limiting Social Media

Although social media can help foster and maintain connections, it can also be harmful to the process of increasing social wellbeing – particularly for teens and young adults. Spending too much time on applications such as Instagram, Facebook, X or TikTok can lead to social comparisons and anxiety. Instead, you can focus on in-person interactions and create a real sense of belonging versus a virtual one. Going out on walks with friends or even a simple coffee meet up can help increase real interactions that are more meaningful. 

How does Social Wellbeing Affect your Health? 

Social wellbeing has been shown to be correlated with a healthier lifestyle. Those with better support systems tend to have lower blood pressure, stronger immune systems and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. This makes sense because having a strong support group can be a resource that provides emotional support when difficult life events happen and increases a person’s resilience to these events. 

Take Action Today With Help From Therapists at Rebound Total Health

Acting is possible whenever you are ready! Making large changes isn’t needed to improve your social wellbeing, in fact, you can start small and work your way up to larger life changes.

Reaching out to an old friend, joining a new group or simply listening to those around you can be ways to help show others you are grateful for them and form new or old connections.

If you are looking for someone to talk to about ways to increase social wellbeing, you can book a free consultation and check out our team of experienced therapists to start talking to someone today. 

We are a team of caring, experienced therapists in Hamilton, Ontario, ready to provide the support you need.

Connect with a therapist today and book an in-person therapy session or try our virtual online counselling in Ontario and across Canada.  

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