Surprising Solution to Long-Term Health
More and more studies are finding that adults who are more socially connected are healthier and live longer than their more isolated peers. The link between a person’s social ties and their overall health is becoming clear, but the reason why might not be as obvious as you think.
Having strong social ties and experiences lead us to having a higher sense of personal control. Personal control is the belief that our actions and the choices we make, directly impact the outcomes of our life. This belief helps us become more resilient against mental and physical stressors by increasing our motivation to practice healthy habits, providing an innate sense of accountability, and an overall more positive outlook on life. The positive behaviors driven by the psychological benefit of having strong relationships have a direct impact on our physical health, resulting in lower levels of inflammation, decreased cardiovascular reactivity, a stronger immune system, and even lead to higher rates of disease recovery. These benefits create a positive cycle between our stress levels and our behaviors to help us get well and stay well, mentally and physically, long-term.
Simple Ways to Increase Social Connectedness
Improving your social health doesn’t have to be incredibly time consuming. Some ideas may include:
- Text one person you’ve had a close relationship with in the past, at least once per week. Reconnect with someone new every few weeks!
- Call a family member on the way to or from work regularly
- Organize a date night with your spouse, or a close friend, once a month. Plan the next date night while still enjoying the first! Planning ahead increases accountability.
Socializing, like all behaviors, takes practice. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Luckily, convincing yourself to have dinner with a friend may be a less overwhelming first step in stress management, which in turn, makes us more likely to incorporate other healthy behaviors down the line.
Photo: ©iStock.com/iLexx
