Page 3 - Booklet Social Health & Wellness

Cultivating Habits of Social Wellness

Social wellness is about nurturing ourselves, others, and our relationships. It consists of balancing
our own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and also actively participating as an
interdependent piece of the bigger puzzle of humankind. Thus, even as we care about our
personal connections, we also care about the greater good of society, including our communities
and the environment.

To cultivate your habits of social wellness, follow these seven guidelines:

Practice Self-Care. Self-care embraces healthy personal habits and using positive coping skills to
manage stress, self-soothe and relax through fulfilling or creative outlets like hobbies, crafts, art, sports
activities, hiking, dancing, and social interactions with friends. It also includes choosing to engage in activities
that nurture you emotionally, mentally, or spiritually, such as meditation, yoga, therapy, journaling, taking
classes in areas of interest, spiritual retreats or attending religious services.

Know Thyself. Identify your needs, preferences and values and communicate them to the people around you.
Knowing who you are, who you want to be and where your boundaries lie supports you to engage in positive
relationships with people who have similar interests and values, and can relate to you while encouraging your growth.

Don’t Criticize, Judge or Blame. People can easily get caught up in self-critical thinking, which perpetuates
low self-esteem, contributes to depression and anxiety, and inhibits social interaction. No one wants to be judged, criticized or blamed, and if those
dynamics are present, it can indicate an unhealthy, and potentially abusive relationship.

Own Up to Your Part. In every relationship, there are two people involved and each contributes to any situation that comes up, whether positive or negative.
Take responsibility for yourself in disagreements or conflict by using “I” language and don’t push all the blame onto the other person. When an individual argues
for the sake of being “right” rather than trying to understand the other side, the other person may feel invalidated or unheard. This can result in resentment, further conflict
and the eventual end of the relationship.
Rekindle old friendships and nurture relationships with people who are respectful, positive and supportive.

Everyone gets caught up in the challenges of daily life at times, and rekindling old relationships that have been positive ones in the past is a great way to strengthen your
social support system. Maintaining friendships with individuals who respect, love and accept you for who you are is crucial to our social wellness.
Don’t be a flake! Be mindful of the commitments you make and keep them. Know your limitations and don’t spread yourself too thin. Before making a commitment,
be sure that you can realistically meet that expectation.

Appreciate Yourself and Others. Giving more energy to positives than negatives helps to keep us happier, healthier, and more hopeful. Regularly acknowledging
the positive qualities you see in yourself and paying genuine compliments to others you care about feels goodall the way around.