Social Connectivity

In simple terms, social connection has been found to be the most important pillar for our overall health and well-being.

Having strong social support can help reduce the negative effects of stress and improve our physical and mental health. Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness can lead to poor health outcomes such as increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and respiratory infections. It is important to maintain social ties and reach out to friends and family, even small social interactions can have positive effects on our health. Social connection can positively influence factors such as stress, sleep, physical activity and negatively influence smoking and alcohol drinking habits which affect our overall health and well-being.

It is important to recognize the importance of social connection as part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Remember that life teaches us every day that our most wonderful, inspiring, happy, funny, sad or dreadful moments have to do with people in our lives.

What keeps us healthy, meaningful and fulfilled in our life is not money, power or fame but the quality of our social ties. Making an effort to nurture and strengthen your relationships will have the most impact on your life and the biggest return in happiness.

Top 10 tips

See yourself as the main driver in making some changes to improve your social network
Join a group that shares your interest/hobby such as reading, walking, hiking, gardening, singing and park runs
Be proactive, don’t wait for others to initiate contact
Pop into your local library, places of worship, cafe where there is often information about various social group meetings you can join
Invest and maintain strong supportive relationships with your family, friends and extended family. Remember the little things like birthdays, congratulations, condolences
Volunteer for areas you care about in your community
Stay close to your inner circle, this enhances quality of life with good conversations, feeling supported and understood
Travel to different places, meet new people
Develop a new interest, take a class to learn something new
Re-establish past social connections. Contact an old friend you have lost touch with, in all likelihood they will be delighted you did

Social Connectivity

See yourself as the main driver in making some changes to improve your social network

Join a group that shares your interest/hobby such as reading, walking, hiking, gardening, singing and park runs

Be proactive, don’t wait for others to initiate contact

Pop into your local library, places of worship, cafe where there is often information about various social group meetings you can join

Invest and maintain strong supportive relationships with your family, friends and extended family. Remember the little things like birthdays, congratulations, condolences

Volunteer for areas you care about in your community

Stay close to your inner circle, this enhances quality of life with good conversations, feeling supported and understood

Travel to different places, meet new people

Develop a new interest, take a class to learn something new

Re-establish past social connections. Contact an old friend you have lost touch with, in all likelihood they will be delighted you did

Addiction