In a world where work and family life can make it difficult to find time for yourself, it’s important to prioritize social self-care. In this article, we will explore different social self-care examples that you can incorporate into your daily life as well as the benefits of doing so.
Let’s get to it!
What Is Social Self-Care
Social self-care is one of the pillars of self-care. It is the practice of engaging in activities that promote social connection to enhance our overall mental and emotional wellness.
Related post: Self-Care Tips For Women: Are You Really Taking Care Of Yourself?
It includes activities that allow us to build social relationships, develop social support networks, and participate in meaningful social interactions with others.
Benefits of Social Self-Care
Social self-care is beneficial in many ways. It helps promote social connection, strengthen relationships, and foster a sense of belonging.
Building social connections can help us feel less lonely, improve our self-esteem, increase our social support network, and reduces stress levels.
Social Self-Care Examples
.Spending time with friends and family
.Volunteering in the community
.Joining social clubs or organizations
.Attending social events
.Starting a conversation with someone you might not normally converse with
.Cultivate new relationships
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How To Socially Care For Yourself
Self-care often gets put on the back burner in our busy lives, but social self-care is worth taking the time for!
There are many ways to practice social self-care at any given moment, even with a busy lifestyle.
Here are some tips that you may find helpful:
1) Start cultivating relationships.
Make an effort to get out and meet new people. Having meaningful conversations and connections with others will help you feel more connected and appreciated
2) Take time for yourself.
Even if you have a day full of activities, make sure you take the time for your own personal needs such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, exercising regularly, and allowing yourself downtime without distractions.
Related post: 5 Easy Ways to Achieve a Healthy Morning Routine
3) Pursue creative outlets.
Having creative outlets releases stress hormones which foster calmness in times when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Also, try something new. Perhaps you have always wanted to learn a new language, how to play a musical instrument, or learn to horseback ride (this is something I took on in my early 50s) which has led me to a whole new community of wonderful people.
4) Spend quality time with family & friends.
Spending intentional quality time by engaging in activities together boosts connection among family members.
5) Actively engage in hobbies & interests.
Find hobbies that truly interest you whether that’s reading books, playing sports games, gardening, etc…
Engaging ourselves in these activities allows us to step into different worlds temporarily where we can express ourselves freely and without judgment.
6) Join various groups in your community.
For example, look for book clubs, fitness classes, card clubs, walking/hiking groups, yoga classes, etc. Think about what activities you enjoy and look for groups that align with that.
By following these tips we are creating a positive habit of how we care for ourselves mentally & socially which allows us more control over how we confront our daily struggles while also having healthier relationships!
Make The Most Of Your Free Time
Social self-care is incredibly important and should be treated just as an important appointment or meeting. Scheduling time to nurture relationships with friends and family is extremely important but also keep in mind activities that provide social satisfaction like volunteering. Whether it be for a couple of hours or a whole day, try to make social self-care a priority.
Take the time to connect with others and if possible, look for volunteer opportunities to contribute your skills and knowledge where needed or look for an opportunity where you can learn.
When setting out on my volunteer journey at Angels Haven Horse Rescue, I knew nothing about horses other than the fact that I loved being with them…that’s it!
Fortunately, this is the type of volunteer position where I was able to start from ground zero. Every day I am there is an opportunity to learn. It is an essential part of my social self-care.
Though it may seem a bit foreign, social self-care is actually quite simple to incorporate into your life. It just means being deliberate about connecting with the people who matter most to you. Whether that’s catching up over coffee or taking a group fitness class together.
Resource: Social Self-Wellness Toolkit
When you make time for social self-care, you reap its many benefits: improved mood, decreased stress levels, increased feelings of belonging and satisfaction, and more!
Which of the social self-care examples above resonates with you most? I’d love to read your answers in the comments.
Other Posts You May Enjoy:
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.25 Simple Self-Love Gifts Ideas For Your Best Year Ever!
.How To Make Time for Yourself Even When Life Seems Crazy
Catching up with friends for lunch or over the phone
That is always nice to do!
Interesting and also common sense although many people forget about connecting to others. Good to see content like this and be reminded!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this post. Making and keeping connections with others really goes a long way!