SOCIAL CONNECTIONS PRACTICED:
Research shows that happy people spend more time with others and have a richer set of social connections than unhappy people. Since studies also show that the simple act of talking to a stranger on the street can boost our mood more than we expect, let's dive a little deeper into this step.
This was one of the easiest and probably the most popular steps to complete before COVID-19. But now more than ever, we really need to be intentional about our social connections. Since working, schooling and sharing life moments have gone virtual, we miss our social contacts more than ever. Here’s what we propose…
Create a list of things you would normally do during your time off or on the weekend.
Create your own Google Meets party, a Shine and Wine party or Mom & Me get- together online. During this hour, catch up on all the things that happened during the week, vent, dance, laugh or just listen.
Get out and enjoy some fresh air, plan a picnic, sit on the grass, and if possible, strike up a conversation or ask about someone else’s day or week.
Social interactions are important for our moods and since research shows that even talking with a stranger brings our mood up, consider doing just that.
Reach out to a neighbor that you rarely speak with.
Visit an elderly person who you know may not have very many visitors due to COVID-19 (practicing social distancing of course).
Make “Get Well” cards for COVID-19 patients, make “Thank You” cards for healthcare workers and drop them off at the hospital.
There is no set rule on how or what your social connections should look like or play out. The point is to connect outside of your normal everyday environment. Do not allow the constraints of our state of affairs dictate or set your mood level. Take action and decide how you will control your interactions. In the end, you will own your mood level because you played a role in your social connections.
View this short video on building social connections by havethattalk.
If you would like to share how you increase your mood level, reach out to us at thescienceofhapiness@gmail.com.
Thanks for reminding me how important social contact is in our everyday life. I am determined to be more intentional about this step to maintain some type of normalcy during quarintine.