Nurturing Connections with Social Self-Care
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou
Happy new week dear friend!
As the Yuletide festivities draw near I see it befitting to round up our self-care series with the art of social self-care.
Have you ever felt the warmth of a heart-to-heart chat or the joy of having a really good laugh with friends and family? That’s the essence of social self-care— where nurturing our relationships to fuel our happiness and well-being is the focus.
Now being a big family person and an extrovert I do enjoy the company of others but this is not the same as building relations that fuel your should and leave you wanting and appreciating time spent together. So, this week let’s explore this concept of self-care and why it’s so important.
What Is Social Self-Care?
Social self-care is about maintaining and improving our relationships, both with others and with ourselves. It is worth noting that it’s not necessarily about surrounding ourselves with people all the time but about creating meaningful connections that uplift us.
For instance, even as an extrovert, I am very selective with whom I spend my time and energy with, and so I have only a handful of people I have established such great connections with. So, checking in with a close friend, even for a short chat, can leave me feeling refreshed and connected.
Studies show that quality social interactions improve mental health and reduce stress, therefore, investing in our social lives is as important as practising our physical self-care. Now let’s have a look at some of the ways we can practice this.
How Do You Practice Social Self-Care?
Making Time for Loved Ones
We all know how life can get busy, but making time for people we care about is invaluable. For me, daily texts and weekly catch-ups with my sister over coffee or dinner have become a cherished ritual. We both look forward to these dates and we also know it doesn’t have to be gran to mean something because sometimes, a heartfelt text or a spontaneous call works wonders.
Setting Healthy Boundaries
Healthy relationships respect boundaries. Personally, I’ve learned to politely say “no” to commitments that drain me. It used to be an issue but I’ve learnt that if someone truly respects you they will understand why you sometimes decline or refuse to spend your energy in certain situations. Setting limits protects our energy and ensures we can give our best to the connections that matter.
Engaging in Community
This is still hard for me because I’ve been around a lot recently, but I managed to join a local yoga group and this has helped a lot as well. Joining a local group or club can spark new connections as it’s helped me get to know the local area better and met people with similar interests.
Balancing Alone Time
Let’s not forget our time to recharge. While socializing is important, alone time is equally vital. As much as I enjoy being social after a packed week I can just feel how much I need some Me-Time to rest up.
I have rekindled my love for crocheting, so on my resting days if you don’t find me crocheting then you will find me reading a new book to lose myself in my own space and thoughts. This also helps me reflect on interactions.
Why It Matters
The above points for practising social self-care are a few tips for nurturing ourselves socially, but what if some relationships like family are strained and you just can’t refuse to engage.
This is a hard one but also a common issue, and so what I believe to be the best way forward is to master your response to interactions with such parties. Setting healthy boundaries also applies to us in that we need to set a boundary with ourselves not to engage in activities that will not benefit our mental well-being.
As we start a new week and get closer to Christmas, I know some will be travelling to spend time with family and friends, I would like to encourage you to take time for yourself and reflect on which relationships and connections you want to spend time and energy on. If there are family connections that aren’t conducive, know you can only control your reaction and response and that is what you have to do.
It’s true strong relationships are the foundation of a happy life, but know that social self-care is not just an act of kindness to others but a rather profound gift to ourselves.
Have a great week ahead.
Love & light
Sheila Daisy