What Is Social Health and How Can You Improve It?

The importance of people relationships to our physical and mental wellbeing cannot be overstated. Something as simple as a laugh shared with a friend or a conversation with a stranger can have a huge impact on our emotional and social health. Depending on our surroundings and the people we interact with, we can feel energized and enthusiastic or drained and out of sorts.

Our social health is largely connected to our ability to form meaningful relationships and the quality of those connections. It has many benefits, with strong social ties being linked to longer life, reduced stress, and better physical and mental health. A lack of social connections can result in loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, and increased risk of physical health problems.

Understanding Social Health and How to Manage It

In a clinical sense, social health is often used as a term related to child development, and refers to a child's capacity to form secure relationships and to develop trust. In adults, social health also includes our support systems and the networks we have around us.

Having healthy relationships is key to social wellness, and it's not necessarily about having a large number of friends or being able to fit into a certain extrovert-introvert personality type. It's more a feeling of connectedness to those around you, regardless of the number and type of relationships.

It is also important to differentiate social health from social determinants of health. While both related to our environment and how it impacts our wellbeing, the two areas focus on different matters.

7 Signs You Are Socially Healthy and How to Improve Social Wellness

You don't need to be married or in the best relationship with your family to have good social health. An introvert with a few close relationships can experience the same level of connectedness as an extrovert with many contacts. Improving social health is something that you can take charge of and the following are signs that you are well on your way.

• You strike the right balance between social and alone time. Everyone needs a different ratio and it is important to find what works for you. Knowing when to stay connected with friends and when to separate for some time is a sign of good social health.
• You communicate assertively and set healthy boundaries. It's important to be able to express your needs without coming across as aggressive, and to be able to do so without experiencing any negative emotions.
• You are able to communicate openly and truthfully with others. Honesty is always important, but particularly when it comes to maintaining strong relationships. It's a sign of good social health to be able to discuss your thoughts and feelings without fear or insecurity.
• You understand the power of compromise. Being able to meet in the middle and work towards a suitable agreement demonstrates a capacity to accept diverse points of view. It's a key part of navigating conversations and forming meaningful connections with others.
• You have empathy and can relate to other people's feelings. Being able to show compassion towards others, even when they have experienced something different than you, is a great indication of social health.
• You are a good listener. Listening is an important part of relationships. It improves understanding and builds trust.
• You practice gratitude. Acknowledging the people in your life and appreciating what they bring to it, is important for maintaining healthy, positive relationships.

How to Improve Social Wellness

Improving social health is not about forcing yourself to 'get out there.' Instead, it's important to focus on feeling connected and forming meaningful relationships. Here are a few methods for improving social wellness:

• Make time for yourself and your relationships. Investing in your own wellbeing and the relationships you have is essential for social health.
• Be present. Being present in conversations and physically showing up is an important part of maintaining and strengthening relationships, and it sends out the message that you are reliable and interested in the person you are connecting with.
• Show interest in other people. Sharing stories and memories, listening, and encouraging people to share their experiences helps create lasting connections. It shows them you care and builds trust within relationships.
• Be encouraging. We can often overlook the power of words to motivate and to support. Letting people know that you appreciate them and their efforts helps foster positive connections.
• Practice forgiveness. Learning to accept differences in opinion and to forgive people when things go wrong is a key part of forming meaningful connections.

What is Social Health?

Social health is closely linked to our overall physical and emotional wellbeing. It is a vital aspect of our lives that often gets overlooked. Connecting with people in meaningful and healthy ways can have a positive impact on our physical and mental health, our sense of happiness, and our overall well-being. However, anxiety and worries can sometimes hinder our ability to form healthy social connections.

If this is the case, it is important to take the time to reflect and understand what our needs are. Here are a few of the signs of positive social health that can help you determine your own:

Signs of Positive Social Health

• You don't feel angry, resentful, apologetic, fearful or ashamed when expressing your needs.
• You are comfortable and at ease with yourself when socializing.
• You show others respect and do not bring them down to improve your self-esteem.
• You regularly make time for activities that make you happy and you prioritize maintaining social health.
• You take part in the community by volunteering, playing community sports, or helping out at your kid's school.
• You have a strong social network with people who are there for you in times of need.

How to Improve Your Social Wellness

If you don't feel like you hit all the marks, that's okay. There are some things you can do right now to help improve your social health.

• Practice self-care by making sure you get enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising. Meditation can help you connect with yourself before connecting with others.
• Take social interactions one step at a time. Start small and look for common ground.
• Make the first move and reach out to people in your life. Seeing each other is what matters.
• Join a team, class, or virtual group activities. It is a great way to connect with people who have similar interests.
• Work on your communication skills by becoming more aware of your own feelings and how you react to different social situations.
• If needed, do not hesitate to reach out to a mental health provider for help understanding your social needs and forming meaningful relationships.

Your health and happiness are largely determined by the quality of your relationships. Investing the time and effort into building, maintaining and enjoying healthy social connections will greatly benefit your life.

The Importance of Social Health and Well-Being

Finding a balance between mental and social health is the key to happy and fulfilling relationships with those around us. Everyone has different needs when it comes to social contact, ranging from daily visits with loved ones to interaction once a month. It's important to find the balance that works best for you.

Understanding Mental Well-Being

Mental well-being is the ability to maintain a positive mental state and regulate our emotions. It is closely connected to social health, and in order to stay mentally well, we need to know how to manage our feelings and build strong connections with those around us. Here are a few strategies to improve your social health:

• Voice your feelings: Acknowledging and expressing your feelings to yourself and loved ones helps you to feel connected and understood.
• Practice mindfulness: Bringing yourself to the moment, and tuning into your inner self, helps to ground you and build on your connection to the world.
• Stay connected: Put effort into staying in touch with your friends and family. Reach out when you start to feel isolated.

Ways to Improve Social Health

When it comes to finding meaningful connections with others and improving social health, there are many options. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Join a group or club: Find clubs and organizations that focus on topics you're interested in and meet new people.
• Volunteer: A great way to give back to your community and meet people with similar interests.
• Talk to a friend: Reach out to trusted friends or family members and talk about how you're feeling.
• Take a class: Consider a class or workshop that interests you and meet people who share the same passions.
• Put yourself out there: Taking the first step can be difficult but the rewards can be worth it. Try attending events in your area or social gatherings to meet new people.
• Practice self-care: Taking some time for yourself is key to emotional wellbeing. Do something that makes you feel good.

Social health is an incredibly important part of our overall wellbeing and happiness. While it can be daunting to build meaningful connections with those around us, it's important to be mindful of our mental health and recognize what we need to find the right balance. With the right support, we can achieve a healthy and fulfilling social life.