While aging is an inevitable part of life, the decisions we make today can shape the quality of our future.
As we age, the checklist of what we should be doing to maintain our health grows. We should be exercising regularly; we should be eating healthfully and drinking lots of water; we should continue wearing sunscreen and consider giving up night driving; and the list goes on.
However, one crucial aspect of healthy aging often goes overlooked—staying socially connected. Engaging with others isn’t merely a way to pass time, but an essential component to maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle, and though doctors don’t write prescriptions for maintaining relationships, its profound benefits in supporting mental clarity and physical and emotional well-being means we all should be doing it!
Research consistently confirms that older adults with strong social ties are significantly less likely to experience feelings of loneliness or depression. The emotional perks of regular interactions also contribute to improved cognitive functioning and emotional resilience as we age. Having a robust social network and calendar enhances a sense of belonging and self-worth, reduces stress, and lowers the risks of mental health challenges related to isolation and inactivity. It also ensures that there are people you can turn to for comfort, encouragement, support, intellectual enrichment, and wisdom, which can help you manage life’s challenges more effectively.
Just as physical activity strengthens the body, social engagement strengthens the mind. Participating in discussion groups, outings, volunteering, or learning a new skill with others, can act as a form of mental exercise that keeps the brain engaged and agile, and makes life more fun.
Social connections also have a direct impact on physical health. People with strong social networks tend to be more physically active. Whether walking with a friend, participating in group fitness classes, or simply staying active through shared activities, socializing often includes moving your body, supporting mobility and bone strength and preventing a sedentary lifestyle that can speed up the aging process. Being with others reduces stress, lowers the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and digestive illnesses.
Additionally, the supportive nature of social relationships improves health outcomes by inspiring healthier behaviors. If those around us are being conscientious about healthier lifestyle choices, the chances increase that we will take their cue and do similarly. Not surprisingly, there’s also evidence that people with strong social ties recover more quickly from illnesses and surgeries. The sense of comfort, support, and attentiveness provided by loved ones can boost the immune system, accelerate recovery, and can certainly make sick-days more tolerable.
While staying social has profound health benefits, life circumstances, losses, scheduling, transportation limitations, and fluctuating health and energy levels can sometimes be obstacles to being social. However, making a personal commitment to staying connected to current loved-ones and even to developing new relationships through activities should remain a priority for wellbeing. The more consistent you can be the better. and if you need the support of others to enhance your social calendar, The benefits of maintaining an active social life are immeasurable, and they just might be the key to aging well and living a vibrant, fulfilled life for years to come. So, if you need the support of others to enhance your social calendar, remember that making a call is a social interaction itself, so pick up the phone and get started.
Here are some practical ways to foster and maintain meaningful social connections:
Here are some local resources in the Twin Cities to help direct you:
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