Social Wellness Tips

Social well-being can be defined as our ability to effectively interact with people around us and to create a support system that includes family, friends, and colleagues. Use the Fall season as a reason to connect! Whether it’s enjoying festive activities, taking a Fall walk, sharing a favorite seasonal recipe, or simply checking in with a friend, finding ways to spend time and connect with others can lift your spirits and strengthen bonds.

It’s okay to take a step back and spend some time alone. Social wellness isn’t just about constant connection — it’s also about knowing your boundaries and honoring your own needs. Taking intentional time to recharge on your own can actually strengthen your relationships. When you prioritize your emotional health, you bring a more grounded, present version of yourself to your social circles. Remember, solitude is not a sign of disconnection — it's a healthy pause that makes your time with friends and family more meaningful.

Social wellness is vital—humans thrive on connection. Make time for loved ones, engage in meaningful conversations, and surround yourself with people who uplift and support your well-being. For more information on the importance of social connection, please visit the CDC Social Connection webpage – Social Connectedness for Individual and Community Well-being.

Building strong social connections is essential for emotional health. Spending time with family, friends, or a support group can provide a sense of belonging, reduce feelings of loneliness, and increase your overall happiness. Make time for meaningful social interactions, whether in person or virtually. 

Resource: The Importance of Socializing from Psychology Today.

Social media is wonderful for keeping in touch or developing relationships with those with whom you have lost touch. But as we know, we can get caught in the vortex, which is social media, scrolling and clicking as the hours pass. Taking a break from social media has been shown to have a significant impact on your mental state of mind. Instead of just saying you will do it, choose a specific time and make a plan not to be on any social media outlet. Get someone else involved or create a challenge for yourself or for anyone who wants to join you in refraining from your social media accounts. You can set your phone or computer to turn off or limit your social media presence. Many phones offer screen time limitations.

Make it fun! While you are working to overcome challenges or realize your resolution, make sure you stay positive and have fun. That is not to say there will not be times when you have to work hard to keep yourself motivated. But no matter the goal or aspiration, there should be joy in what you’re working toward, and regardless of what you’re prioritizing, find meaningful ways to reward yourself along the way.

Here are a few ideas:

• If you’re improving your nutrition, find a range of calorie and nutrient-aligned recipes that are delicious.

• If you’re recommitting to physical fitness, find fun workouts like dance classes, hiking, obstacle courses, and games you can play with the kids.

• If you’re prioritizing your mental health, aim to spend more time in nature, which often doubles as physical fitness.

• If you’re prioritizing your spiritual health, consider using at least some of your vacation days for a retreat.

• If you’re prioritizing self-care, schedule at least one relaxing spa treatment per month.

Holiday wellness celebrations are outstanding ways to combine healthy nutrition and social wellness in the workplace. They also provide opportunities for celebrating cultural diversity.

• Share holiday recipes with coworkers

• Better yet, make holiday-themed dishes and share them over a potluck

• Host holiday-themed lunch and learns featuring cultural fare

In addition to focusing on stress-relief activities for yourself, it’s important to focus on your social wellness and stay connected to your community of loved ones. This can help you battle symptoms of seasonal depression and overall improve your mood. There are lots of ways you can work on improving your social well-being. Here are a few ideas: Reflect on your own needs. The path to improving your wellness in any aspect is to determine what would improve your life. 

• Start by setting goals that can improve your emotional health. 

• Reach out to friends and family members, even if you don't see them often. Staying in touch can help you feel more connected and supported. 

• Join a social or hobby group. This can help you meet new people and form new friendships. 

• Volunteer. Giving back to your community can help you feel good about yourself and connected to others. 

• Make time for social activities that you enjoy. Whether it's going out to eat, seeing a movie, or taking a walk, spending time with others can be enjoyable and good for your health!

Social connections might help protect health and lengthen life. Data shows our links to others can have powerful effects on our health. Whether with family, friends, neighbors, romantic partners, or others, social connections can influence our biology and well-being. Look for ways to get involved with others. When we have strong social connections, we have a support system to lean on during challenging times. This support system can help us cope with stress, reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, and enhance our overall quality of life. 

Social wellness means nurturing yourself and your relationships. It means giving and receiving social support - ensuring that you have friends and other people, including family, to turn to in times of need or crisis to give you a broader focus and positive self-image. Social support enhances quality of life and provides a buffer against adverse life events. Social support can take different forms.

Making a few small lifestyle changes can lead to heart-healthy habits that require little thought or effort. Begin to incorporate heart-healthy habits into your family time or time you spend with loved ones. No matter your family or work status there are wonderful things you can do with your loved ones to improve your social connections and your health. Please check out this article from heart.org for more information. 

Reading may have several physical and mental benefits. These include strengthening your brain, increasing your ability to empathize, reducing stress, and building your vocabulary, among others. By challenging your mind to learn, understand, and experience new words and vocabulary you will activate areas of the brain, even those areas responsive to physical sensations and pain. Reading also has a social aspect. Book clubs and other social activities around reading can be a wonderful way to meet new people or get in touch with those you love in a new and unique way. Check out Healthline for more information and resources on the benefits of reading. 

Your work can be demanding sometimes. Responsibilities and the increased ability to connect with smartphones, laptops and wi-fi hotspots accumulates into something that’s seemingly useful but can actually be quite detrimental. The “being able to work anytime, anywhere” adage can be reflective of stress and can lead to actually working all the time, everywhere. A healthy work/life balance means different things for different people, but in general it’s a fulfilling mix of both work and play. For some people this means keeping fairly strict 9-5 office hours and then shutting down work and spending time with family or friends. For some people it means working periods of long, intense hours and then enjoying a longer period of time off. Work/life balance is not about achieving an exact ratio, but rather finding the mix that works best for you—maintaining a division of work and play that feels balanced and allows you to stay healthy outside of work too. In addition to knowing how often to step away from your work, it’s also important to know what’s needed to step away: Do you leave your laptop at the office so you’re not tempted to open it up at home? Do you turn off work notifications on your phone? Do you completely cut off communication with the office on a family vacation? What about weekends? Are you on call? Part of staying fresh and healthy for work is actually stepping away from work as needed. See this work/life balance article for more information.

Human connection is defined, for some, as something as simple as a personal conversation about what’s important to you with someone who is listening…really listening. This way you feel understood and valued. Connection is a two-way street. It may also be a situation where you are the listener feeling empathy and understanding for others and their life experience. No matter what side of the two-way street you are on, connection is about helping someone else out of unconditional goodwill. Connect with your fellow employees and reach out to them through our Checking In campaign. You will be glad you did.

It’s been a long day. You’re looking forward to kicking your feet up and relaxing for the rest of the night. You open your front door, and the welcome wagon is there to greet you! Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to a loyal companion. The unconditional love that is the essence of your pet does more than keep you company. Pets may also decrease stress, improve heart health, and even help children with emotional and social skills. An estimated 68% of U.S. households have a pet. But who benefits from an animal? And which type of pet brings health benefits? For more information, please click on the Power of Pets Article.

Join a book club, sign up for a class, start cooking or pick up a new hobby. Try something new at least once a month. Making a point to keep yourself “on your toes” Learning new things throughout your life can keep your mind lively and engaged. Check out this website for some great ideas. 

In an uncertain world, it helps to have someone to talk to. Sometimes it can be a friend or family member and other times it may help to talk with a professional about your life’s challenges. Talking with a neutral party like a therapist can help you approach your obstacles with a new outlook and perspective. Talking with a therapist can also help you identify ways to improve any mental health concerns like anxiety, which impacts 40 million Americans every year. Here are 3 ways counseling can be helpful.

Kick-off this summer celebration and an eye on good nutrition. You can still have fun and gather with friends and family while paying attention to what you are eating. Follow these tips for a healthy, safe time for the whole family!  

• Swap flavored seltzer water for sodas - Limit your sugary beverages by drinking flavored seltzer water instead of soda.  Buy your favorite flavored bubble water, or simply buy it plain and add a burst of flavor at home with a twist of fresh lemon, lime, oranges, or muddled berries.  Mint leaves will make your drink extra refreshing too!

• Keep foods at proper temperatures – Avoid the spread of bacteria by keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Do not leave perishable foods out of their temperature-controlled environments for more than 30 minutes or 15 minutes on a very hot day. This includes all cooked meats, cheeses, mayonnaise, and creamy dips, salads, and dressings. 

• Have fun with some physical activities – Games and activities are great ways to bond with each other and stay fit! Have a water balloon fight, jump in the pool, or play a round of croquet or badminton. If you’re planning to see fireworks later on, walk or ride your bike instead of driving, if possible. 

• Grill lean protein and veggies – Limit fatty meats, and instead choose to grill lean proteins like chicken, fish, veggie burgers, and 90% lean beef patties. Load up the grill with lots of veggies, too: yummy bell peppers, asparagus, portabellas, onions, squash, and corn on the cob are fabulous options. They only need a little salt, pepper, and olive oil to bring out their incredible flavor! 

• Eat those whole grains – Bursting with delicious fiber and nutrients, use whole wheat or sprouted-grain buns instead of white bread. Make a whole wheat pasta salad with olive oil instead of mayonnaise to keep the fat content down. Try a cold barley, quinoa, or brown rice salad and stir in some minced veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives, then top with feta or parmesan cheese, olive oil, and a little salt and pepper. You won’t even miss that heavy potato salad! 

• Offer lots of healthy dips and snacks – Instead of potato or tortilla chips and creamy dips, slice up a big plate of veggies and whip up your own healthy homemade dips! Some tasty, simple ideas are black bean dip, hummus, guacamole, salsa, and spinach dip using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Yum! 

• Bring something healthy to add to the spread – If you’re a guest, bring one or two favorite healthy side dishes or proteins to grill. This way, you’ll be sure to have a couple of healthy options, no matter what. 

• Use small plates – Fill up a small appetizer-sized plate with a treat of your choice. This way, you won’t feel deprived, but you are not likely to go overboard with empty calories. Having a clear picture of what you’re eating and how much will help you stay mindful. 

• Have a light meal or snack before getting to a gathering – It can be tempting to not eat before your BBQ to “save” your calories for indulging. But this can lead to excessive hunger and overeating later on. Eat at least a light meal or healthy snack about an hour before you plan to start celebrating. This way, you can keep your hunger in check, and you won’t go nuts when you see all that food! 

Enjoy your 4th, and be aware of how and what you are eating to ensure a safe and fun holiday. 

Try gathering up the whole crew to help make dinner at least once per week instead of the frozen standby or a quick drive-thru meal.  I promise your food will be healthier, and you will get some quality time to boot.  A group family effort to prepare a meal can:

• Help family members bond with one another and have fun, and perhaps offer the opportunity to discuss important things without having to sit down and 'have a talk.'

• Teach kids culinary skills they can use to feed themselves and their future families and friends.

• Help kids discover the nutritional properties of foods and how those ingredients help them grow, learn and focus.

• Allow you and your family to explore new flavors, tastes, and recipes.

• Improve health outcome - research indicates that family meals can improve mental and physical health and reduce risky adolescent behaviors such as substance abuse.

• Build confidence in children and adults.

 If you are cooking with your kids, a great way to get them involved is to teach them the math and/or science behind the process of cooking.  If the meal does not come out how you want, then you can order a pizza.  But give the cooking a try first.  Remember that cooking with a group, partner, or kids may take a little longer and require more patience, so plan to do so on those nights when you are not coming home late from work or having to run off to another activity.  Here are some cooking-together tips and family-friendly recipes.

The Silent Generation

If you were born between 1928–1945 you are considered to be part of “The Silent Generation.” People of this generation older than 75 are typically enrolled in Medicare, and often, they are enrolled in a Medicare supplement and Part D prescription drug plan. This generation is more likely to: 

• Adhere to the recommendations of their doctor and they often heed the advice of health professionals and experts for their health information and/or referrals.

• Take Multiple prescription medications for chronic disease.

• May require an inpatient hospital stay or visit to the emergency room.

Baby Boomer

Advice:  Continue to communicate with your healthcare professional about supplements and medications you are taking and may take in the future.

If you were born between 1946-1964 you are a "Baby Boomer."  You probably embrace technology to an extent, but you still are grounded in traditional practices in healthcare.  You may be likely to:

• Get a check up with your doctor once per year and you are interested in preventive care.

• Live with a chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes.

Advice:  Understand how preventive measures (e.g., exercise, and healthy eating) can be integrated into your current lifestyle and pay attention to your chronic illness issues.  Advocate for your care with your healthcare professional as it relates to treatments and medications.

Generation X

Next up is generation X.  These were people born between 1965-1980.  Xers were the first true smart consumers of healthcare.  Generation Xers are more likely to:

• Establish strong ties with a healthcare professional and have no problem switching doctors if they feel they are not getting the service they need.

• Be in a situation where they care for others (e.g., children, parents)

Advice:  Schedule preventive exams and screenings.  Gen Xers understand the significance of prevention, but with a variety of responsibilities in their lives, including work and family, they often find themselves too busy.  Only 50% of people in this age group have seen their doctor in the past 5 years.  They also have an avoidance and partial distrust of the medical field that is not true of people born before 1965.

Millennials

Lastly, those born between 1981-1996 are considered Millennials.  Millennials make up the largest group of healthcare consumers and they are influenced significantly by what is online.  They may be likely to:

• Check reviews to see which doctors get the most "stars."  This is usually how they choose their healthcare provider. Or they may be more interested in doctors in the closest proximity to where they live.

• Embrace and trust mobile options and telehealth, and they like the convenience and reduction of waiting times.  Convenience is a big factor in how they choose their healthcare professional.

Advice:  Choose a doctor as your primary care physician (PCP) and establish a relationship with that person.  Millennials need a healthcare professional they can go to on a regular basis and in case of emergency.  They are associated with better overall health, lower medical costs, and decreased use of emergency rooms and hospitals.

Some things to remember no matter your age:

1.  Choose a doctor or healthcare professional for your healthcare needs.  This will help you and your family coordinate care and help you to ensure your health is being looked after.

2. Pay attention to preventive care.  Get suggested (based on age) screenings and exams on a regular basis.  Schedule those with your PCP and monitor your health on a consistent basis.

3. Establish a relationship with a pharmacy near you.  Make sure that filling prescriptions is convenient.  Having one place where you fill prescriptions goes a long way to trusting your pharmacist and avoiding potential drug interactions.

Generation Z

If you were born between 1997-2012 you are considered Gen Z. To Gen Z, quality care is personal relationships, not concierge services. When we think of what the future of quality of care looks like, we may think of concierge services, safe processes, and patient-centered approaches. But to Gen Z, the highest level of quality of care is in the personal relationships they’re building — whether that’s with their primary care doctor or their therapist or a peer-to-peer support group. 

• Despite the rise of telemedicine during COVID-19, some form of an in-person experience for healthcare is preferred

• Gen Z establishes meaningful relationships beyond routine reasons

• Twenty-five percent of Gen Z wears a fitness or sleep tracker, like a Fitbit or Apple Watch

• Nearly 20 percent track their food and water intake with an app

• Gen Z is accessing care at the pharmacy (53%) and urgent care (39%) before they turn to telehealth solutions

Advice: Continue to utilize technology to your advantage, but be aware that when using social media there may be false information that can send you down the wrong path. Continue to develop strong relationships with your healthcare provider. Sharing your personal health information will ensure you get the care and treatment you deserve. 

Generation Alpha

If you were born between 2013-Present, you are considered Generation Alpha. Generation Alpha is said to face challenges when it comes to sedentary living because of less time spent outside and overall inactivity. 

• Social media is essential to Generation Alphas for their communication, entertainment, and interaction with healthcare

• Alphas influence their parent’s purchases especially in terms of food which has a direct link to health and well being

Advice: Continue to work with your healthcare provider to get regular checkups. This includes the dentist too. Keeping the alphas health and well will go a long way toward securing a brighter future for everyone.

It is healthy and natural to talk about mental health struggles. In today’s fast paced and demanding world we all have them and experience times in our lives when help  is needed. Talk with a friend or family member, or with your doctor or a counselor. It’s OK to not always feel OK. But if it becomes too much it’s time to seek help. For more information about our EAP Program please visit resourcesforliving.com. Use the ID: MCCCD and the Password: EAP to find more resources on mental health.