Your Social Muscles Need Exercise

We often think about building our physical muscles through regular exercise, but what about our social muscles? Just as consistent physical activity keeps us fit and resilient, maintaining a regular socialness practice can bolster our long-term social resilience and overall well-being.

Even if you’re currently feeling socially connected, consistently engaging in social activities and nurturing relationships can have profound long-term benefits. Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, emphasizes this point: “The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.” This longitudinal study, spanning over 80 years, demonstrates that investing in social connections pays dividends well into the future.

Building social muscles isn’t just about expanding your network; it’s about developing the skills and habits that make meaningful connections possible. Regular social interaction helps hone our emotional intelligence, empathy, and communication skills. Studies show that people who engage in more frequent social interactions show improved ability to read emotions and understand others’ perspectives over time.

Moreover, a strong social practice creates a buffer against future stress and adversity. Folks with diverse social networks experience less stress and recover more quickly from stressful events. This resilience is particularly crucial during major life events – unexpected challenges or difficult transitions.

Maintaining social connections also contributes to cognitive resilience. Studies show that older adults with larger social networks and more frequent social engagement had better cognitive function and a reduced risk of cognitive decline. By cultivating a consistent, daily socialness practice of positive connections with others, we’re essentially creating a social safety net for our future selves.

In essence, a socialness practice is like a savings account for our mental and emotional health. Regular deposits of social interaction and relationship nurturing accumulate over time, providing us with a wealth of resilience and support when we need it most. So, keep flexing those social muscles – your future self will thank you for the investment.