“Humans are social animals.” It’s a well-known fact. Now maybe you had a long day at work and stressed out or working on an assignment for very long and you want to blow off some steam and relax but don’t know how. Well, having a social interaction will boost you up. Research suggests that talking to someone you love, like family and friends, activates the reward centre of your brain and releases dopamine.
Socialising is a key to good health, both physically and mentally. Now perhaps your idea of fun involves a get together with your best friends for a rendezvous with a few drinks and loud music. Or maybe just sitting in the crib sipping coffee in peace, watching the latest show on Netflix or reading your favourite novel.
Whatever sounds enticing to you, studies suggest whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, everyone benefits from social interaction. Although everyone has a unique personality and requires different amounts of interaction.
Various studies have been conducted which suggest that people who spend more time alone are more prone to depression, anxiety and poor quality of life. But that doesn’t mean you have to be overly social and drain yourself. Just enough to allow yourself to blow off some steam will keep you energised and motivated.
Over the time, researchers have conducted various studies on physical and mental health benefits of socialising.
Humans, being a social animal need a sense of belonging and a positive support group. We believe that when we are surrounded by positive, upbeat people, they bring out our strengths and improve our cognitive abilities, while inappropriate social interactions can increase the risk of poor overall health. In this blog, I will share some of the positive mental and physical health benefits of social interaction.
Here are a few benefits of social interaction:
1. Improves brain health
Brain health is the most important aspect of the studies that have been conducted on social interaction. Lack of social interaction results in cognitive decline, such as language, memory, learning, lack of concentration. This is a normal ageing process, but lack of social interaction makes it worse and symptoms materialize at a much younger age.
Consistent social interaction keeps you up to date on what’s going on in your surroundings. Which sharpens your brain, increases knowledge and keeps your brain occupied. Friends and family give you a sense of belonging and purpose, boost your self-esteem, make you empathetic, and give you trust, which reduces the risk of anxiety and depression.
2. Social interaction reduces the risk of blood pressure issues related to loneliness
Lack of social interaction physically affects your blood pressure. Recent studies suggest that loneliness increases blood pressure by the same amount that weight loss, and exercise decreases it. Which results in overall increased stress levels and cardiovascular diseases. Loneliness increases the stress hormone (cortisol) which increases your blood pressure by up to 30 points.
So, having a social interaction will help keep your heart healthy, blood pressure in check and reduction in stress levels.
3. Longevity of life
Having a healthy social interaction will help you lead a stronger, longer, and healthier life. It improves your immune system, which will help you fight off infection and recover from disease in a brief span. Healthy relationships motivate you to eat well, stop smoking and reducing alcohol intake.
Lack of healthy social interaction leads to an increase in the amount of stress hormones which compromises your immune system, leads to unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyle and substance abuse.
When a person connects with a group and feels responsible for others, these feelings and goals encourage them to take better care of themselves and take fewer risks.
4. Social interaction and fitness
When we interact with people who are more active, healthier and happier, they give us a sense of motivation to lead a healthier lifestyle. Our health is a combination of physical, mental and emotional well-being and social activity helps us to indulge in physical activity. It may be a morning walk, Zumba or a dance class, gym or any other sports activities. Socialising will keep you motivated for physical fitness, which will ultimately boost your physical confidence.
5. Helps you learn new information
Socialising always makes you learn new things. You might learn from anyone like that friend who writes, or a cousin who has just started acting, or any of your friends and family. You might follow something you thought you would like to do but never did. Friends and family will always support and encourage you through it.
You might experience new things and get out of your comfort zone. Socialising will keep you indulged in all forms of activities and make new friends, which will give you a new perspective leading to your own evolution for the better. You’ll share their experiences and insights and learn from their mistakes and what they did right.
Which is basically the purpose of all life forms, i.e. “Evolution”.
To conclude, I would like to say that socialising is the best way to try new things, meet new people, realising your passion and lead a healthier, happier and meaningful life. Over the centuries, social interaction has proven to have a positive impact on our physical, mental, and social health. Which is the soul definition of health.
Thanks for reading.
Techazette 