The Brain Benefits of Social Connection
“In conversations around preventive brain health, we often focus on the role of diet, exercise, and sleep. These are activities we can often improve in isolation, and they can be some of the easier levers to pull to generate a healthy brain lifestyle. But there’s another critical factor that is increasingly showing signs of its ability to predict risk for brain health: social connection. Research showed us that our time spent engaging in social interactions may directly modify our brains. For example, our social interactions may activate neural circuits, helping keep them flexible. It’s also reported that spending time in meaningful social interactions may help boost cognitive reserve and mental resilience and offset the known brain-damaging effects of excess psychological stress. These types of data help to explain correlations between a lower risk of dementia and depression and more social engagement.
Here are 5 simple ways to improve your social connections today:
- Give a friend or family member a call, just to say hi and hear how they’re doing. If you’re lucky enough to live near or with someone meaningful to you, you might set aside a weekly time slot dedicated to deepening your relationship.
- Attend a local concert, art event or public social gathering. Yes, it’s often awkward at the start!
- Look for local meetup groups based around areas of your interest. Photography, food, hiking and more are great ways to link up with people with similar interests.
- Make a point of putting away your digital devices when interacting with people you want to bond with. Research shows that having a smartphone nearby may distract us and make it harder to connect.
- Consider volunteerism. Not only is this a great way to meaningfully connect with others, but it’s independently linked to better health.”
Read the whole article at Psychology Today
#Brain #Health #Socialization #Benefits
💬 What is one thing you can do for the health of your brain today?
Did you like this topic? Then you might also enjoy reading the post "Meeting New People, Making New Friends"
@globalBraid3744
What is the one thing you can do for the health of your brain today?
I can positively interact with someone; offering support to whatever issues they may be dealing with. I've discovered over my career in healthcare that helping someone gain or regain attributes that they may have lost or misplaced in their daily life can obviously not only help them down a better path in life but also cause me to feel not only good but better about myself. Being able to relate to people is a wonderful source for positivity; it can help a person achieve not only happiness but a better brain function. You want to interact with people and helping out is a big bonus when it comes to brain function. ❤️
@xandia
I love your answer! Facilitating someone's growth or simply interacting with others can make us feel better as well and it positively affects our brain function. Thank you for sharing.
@globalBraid3744
- 1. Friends and family: I don’t have any that I wish to talk to.
- 2. What is a public social gathering?
- 3. Looking for meet up groups? Checked Meetup.com nothing within 50 miles of me that will allow me to attend.
- 4. Not an issue, no one to talk to.
- 5. Volunteerism: I don’t want to get into an obligation, I already have more than I can do.
@Gettingbettertoday
This is also all right! As far as it is your choice. You are not forced to seek or build any social connections or take additional obligations if you do not want
@globalBraid3744
Your right.
I don't belong.
@Gettingbettertoday
I also get feelings like I do not belong sometimes, and many people feel the same. Perhaps you have not yet found someone that understands you well and whom you can confide in.
