Connection to ourselves, to others and to nature boosts wellbeing by fostering happiness, reducing stress, enhancing self-worth, and promoting a sense of belonging and physical health.
Connecting in a way that feels good for you.
Taking time to feel connected, whether these connections are with our partners, families, friends, work colleagues, neighbours, pets or others in our communities, is key to our overall wellbeing, happiness and resilience. Connecting with others can help us feel close to people, and valued for who we are. Being social means different things for different people. You might prefer being in quieter situations with one other person, or you might like being in big groups. You might like to connect with people online, or you might enjoy phone calls or sending letters.
Some Ideas You Could Try
Connecting With a Stranger
As William Butler Yeats said: ‘There are no strangers here – just people you haven’t met yet.‘
A lot of people shy away from speaking to anyone in public. But if we learn to do this it can be incredibly enriching, for ourselves and society. People tend to underestimate how much they might enjoy a conversation with a stranger, feel connected to their conversation partner and be liked by their conversation partner.
Even just making eye contact, saying hello, offering someone help, asking how someone is and really listening – can all make a huge difference in how you feel and how other people feel.
Reaching Out
Whether it’s a phone call, a text or meeting up in person, connecting with other people is very important for our wellbeing.
Whether you are naturally an introverted or extroverted person, for wellbeing we all need to feel connected to others. Humans are a social species and our brain is hardwired for connection.
If you can’t think of anyone you want to reach out to, perhaps you could find connection through the Befriending Network (link below).
Write a Gratitude Letter
Practicing and expressing gratitude is a powerful tool that can improve your well-being and strengthen your relationships with others.
A gratitude letter is a written expression of thanks to someone that we appreciate for helping or positively influencing our lives in some way. It could be a way to acknowledge someone’s hard work, kindness, support, or just who they are as a person. You can send a gratitude letter to family, friends, co-workers, mentors, or even strangers!
Join a Local Community Group
Being part of a community can make life feel more meaningful and enjoyable, help us feel happier and safer, and improve our mental health. It can even provide protection from the emotional harm of discrimination.
Yet sometimes, although most of us live nearby to other people, we don’t always feel that we are part of a community.
There are so many ways we can get involved in our communities and boost our mental health and wellbeing. Perhaps you could find a local group for something you care about and join in!
Connecting with the Natural World
The natural world is vital in keeping us emotionally, psychologically and physically healthy.
There are numerous proven benefits to spending time connecting to the natural world and this can be anywhere from green spaces like parks, woodland or forests and blue spaces like rivers, wetlands, beaches or canals. It also includes trees on an urban street, private gardens, verges and even indoor plants or window boxes.
Even watching nature documentaries is good for our mental health. This is great news as it means the mental health benefits of nature can be made available to nearly every one of us, no matter where we live.
Free Wellbeing Resources Library
Explore our library of free resources, toolkits, videos, podcasts, events and courses which can support you to build wellbeing for yourself and the community where you live. And you can add your own resource!
UK Directory of Wellbeing Opportunities
Explore our directory of wellbeing opportunities, projects and practitioners across the whole of the UK. Type in your postcode and find out what’s happening near you! You can also add your own marker on the map!
Want some more ideas of how you can connect?
Learn more about the importance of staying connected with others and how maintaining meaningful relationships supports your wellbeing.
Take a look here