How to create human connection and improve your health.

It’s hard to believe that something that we often take for granted can save our lives.  The pandemic set a new normal for many of us by preventing us from being with other humans, making social media one of the only accessible forms of connections.  Beyond improving your mental health, human connections improves your physical health.

In addition to improving your longevity, those with strong social bonds also have the tools to prevent heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression and anxiety.  Plus, evidence from National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health has shown that it assists in recovery from stress, anxiety and depression, improves sleep, well-being, and quality of life.

While social media helps you feel in touch with others, it only brushes the surface of your true need for human connections.  It’s like looking at a picture of a hamburger to fill your hungry stomach…it doesn’t cut it. 

Create the intention and take action today to re-kindle relationships, forge new ones, and fill that need for human connection inside of each of us.

Here are 5 simple tips to improve the quality of your life and human connections:

Play! When we were kids, our life centered around playing with others.  When was the last time you played a game?  Game night with friends (Bunco, cards, board games) is one fun option.  Playing a sport is an even better option as it combines exercise with connection.  Try your hand at pickleball, tennis, join a club sport or take a hike with a friend(s).  The key is that you can’t play these alone, and you need other humans.

Schedule connection time!  We are busy people, and it’s easy to see social time as a luxury but remember that you need it like you need food and movement.  Make an appointment with friends consistently and lock it into your calendars.  Even setting a calendar reminder to call your bestie every Tuesday at noon will pay dividends.

Be curious!  Start up new conversations with others and be curious about who they are and what they do, and you may forge a new friendship or learn something new.  Offer up a sincere compliment to a stranger and open the door to possibilities.  Personally, some of my lifelong friendships were sparked in public restrooms, grocery store lines, and at the dog park.

Engage in the community.  Volunteer at a non-profit you are passionate about, join a mental health support group, attend events, and it will fill your need for a sense of purpose as well as human connection.

Be brave, embrace the awkward.  Rekindling lost friendships or forming new ones can be overwhelmingly awkward but lean into it and know that others are feeling the same way.  Start with a text ‘I was just thinking of you’ or blow them away with a handwritten card.  Just start somewhere and your soul will be nourished by the art of human connection.

Barbie Collins Young is a Harvard-certified nutrition expert and wellness coach at liveitupcoach.com.  Her passion is educating others on the pillars of lifestyle medicine:  Nutrition, Movement, Social Connections, Sleep, Curbing Substance Abuse, and Stress Management.

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