The Importance of ‘Staying Connected’

Spending time with happy and positive friends can elevate your mood, while having stronger social ties has been linked with a lower risk of depression, healthier blood pressure and body mass index.

Human beings are inherently social creatures. As far back as we can trace, humans have travelled, hunted, and thrived in social groups for good reason.

For people who spent years pursuing their careers or raising families, retiring may lead to a decreased sense of purpose. So, while we all have an innate need for meaningful social engagement, it plays a greater role in quality of life as we age.

Here are three of the endless benefits of maintaining social connections:

Gateway to quality of life

Humans are social creatures and being in contact with other people on a regular basis is a must for many people to stay physically and mentally well.

Expand Your Horizons

Engaging in new social groups and meeting people can introduce you to new interests and ideas to ponder. Mentally stimulating activities build up healthy brain cells, while learning about different ways of life, helps develop a higher level of empathy and acceptance towards others.

Support Network

Social supports are critical for emotional health. When you have a quality network of friends, you are more likely to have someone to call on during trying times who can listen to your problems, validate your feelings and offer advice.

Friendship is a two-way street. When your friends are facing tough times, you will feel a sense of self-worth, purpose and pride that you were there to support them.

For activities to stay connected visit Act Belong Commit – Mentally Healthy WA at: https://www.actbelongcommit.org.au/my-mental-health/