How to improve social wellness
Social wellness involves having healthy relationships with friends, family, and the community, and having an interest in and concern for the needs of others and humankind.
Following are some questions you can ask yourself and strategies that can help you improve your social wellness. As you think about the questions and strategies, make a list of the things you will do and the things you may need to help achieve wellness in this area.
Questions Related to Community
- Have you found support groups in your area to connect on important issues?
- Have you made a date with friends for a movie, dinner, coffee, or other social activities?
- Are you keeping in touch with family or friends? You can pick up the phone and catch
- up if they are too far away—even a phone call can lift your spirits.
Strategies Related to Community
- Ask your doctor, a friend or family member, someone from your congregation, or others in your community about support groups.
- Look online or in the local paper for groups that share your interests—whether it’s knitting or playing softball.
- Pick up the phone and connect with others.
Questions Related to New People
- Are you getting out and meeting people with your same interests? If you like art, try a gallery; if you enjoy history, visit historic sites.
- Are you open to meeting people from different backgrounds?
- Have you found a place to volunteer? You never know who you might meet.
Strategies Related to New People
- Look in the newspaper to find out what is happening in your area that could be an opportunity to make friends.
- Keep an open mind and exercise your curious inquiry when meeting new people.
- Ask in your spiritual community or any other community about volunteer opportunities.
- Join meet-up groups online.
Questions Related to Social Time
- Do you set aside quality time to spend with family and friends?
- Are you making time to go to places where you can meet new people, or visiting a new
- location?
Strategies Related to Social Time
- Keep track of when you need to catch up with someone or when a friend or family member is due for a visit.
- Organize a calendar of events that would be good ways to connect, or reconnect, to friends, like a public concert or a class reunion.
Source: Creating A Healthier Life, A Step By Step Guide to Wellness
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov