How to stay connected and social this summer

Summer is a social season filled with barbecues, weddings and holidays spent with friends and family. If you’re looking for an excuse to hit up a party, look no further. July is Social Wellness Month, and it turns out our social lives directly impact our health.

There are physical and mental benefits to nurturing social relationships, says psychologist Pauline Wallin, of Camp Hill, Pa.

“We know that people who are socially isolated are more likely to have chronic diseases,” Wallin says.

Humans are social by nature and wanting a community to protect you harkens to primitive times, she says.

“People who are connected to others are less likely to be depressed and feel lonely, and they report higher levels of happiness,” Wallin says.

“Research shows when you feel socially connected it’s correlated with lower blood pressure, better immune responses and lower levels of stress hormones.”

The quality of social relationships really influences physical health, says psychologist Michael Maniacci, who practices in Chicago.

“Research from the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford both published in the last five years have shown (social relationships and physical health) are almost inseparable,” Maniacci says.

“If you don’t do well socially, it puts you at risk with your immune system. We are social creatures. We are biologically wired to stay in groups.”

The psychological benefits are also strong: “support, love, health and a sense of belonging,” he says.

Take some time this month to nurture your relationships and even form new bonds.

1. Reconnect, but thoughtfully: It can be great to rekindle an old friendship, but psychologist Pauline Wallin says it’s important to stop and think about why the relationship fizzled in the first place. If you don’t have anything in common anymore, or you had a major issue in the past, it might not be worth the effort. If you were just busy, contact them to apologize and ask to reconnect. Or write a thank-you letter for something they helped you with in the past, with a recommitment of friendship.
2. Be simply social: Some aspects of social wellness don’t have to do with your close relationships, Wallin says. You can connect with your community in other ways. Hold open a door, say hello to a neighbor or bring in treats for your coworkers.
3. Meet new people: This can be hard, especially for introverts and shy people. Seek out task-oriented activities such as classes or interest groups, like a hiking club or book club. Also consider volunteering. Join the PTA, coach a youth sports league or deliver meals to people in your neighborhood.
4. Get to talking: The first step to nurturing friendships is to put down the electronic devices and talk. Make specific plans rather than saying that you’d like to meet up sometime. If it’s a friend’s birthday, send them a card or give them a call. Do favors for others and let them do favors for you.   
5. Don’t stress out: Try not to focus on whether you have “enough relationships.” Rather. try to cultivate new ones and enjoy the ones you already have, says psychologist Michael Maniacci. “Make it enjoyable,” he says. “Have fun and laugh.”