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Deepen Connection
Did you know connection is repeatedly shown to be a key protective factor for many mental health challenges? And it’s not just social connection either – the power of connection runs so much deeper!
Start
Have you heard of the five ways to wellbeing? They are a way of thinking how to feel a sense of belonging by connecting to others, connecting to our bodies though movement and our minds through learning, connecting to our environment by taking notice and being mindful and appreciate the connection from others by giving. How connected do your feel?
Proof
Scientific studies are teaching us more and more about how connection to others, connection to our environment, and inwards connection to ourselves supports us to stay healthy and well. Let’s find out more:
Benefits of Connecting to Others
Dan Buettner introduces the Blue Zones study, looking at communities living past age 100. A sense of belonging supports individual well-being and is one of the behaviours connected to longevity in the original blue zones areas.
Connecting to Nature
Research, such as this 2023 paper, shows that being connected to nature is beneficial for human health and nature conservation. Gladys Barragan-Jason, Michel Loreau, Claire de Mazancourt, Michael C. Singer, Camille Parmesan,
Psychological and physical connections with nature improve both human well-being and nature conservation: A systematic review of meta-analyses, Biological Conservation, Volume 277, 2023, 109842, ISSN 0006-3207,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109842.
Connecting to Ourselves
Being self aware can help us feel more connected. One of the ways we can do this is through meditation and mindfulness.
Actionable Ideas
What can we try today that might help us feel more deeply connected? Different things will support each of us. Take a look at the lists below for some ideas:
Ways to connect to self
- Journalling
- Breathwork
- Meditation / mindfulness
- Yoga
- Massage
- Bath / shower
- Doing something creative
- Listening to music / watching a film
- Reading
- Learning something new
Ways to connect to others
- Talking to friends / family
- Messaging / emailing / writing to someone
- Posting on social media
- Doing an activity in a group eg parkrun
- Listening to an audio / watching a video
- Smiling at people
Ways to connect to environment
- Being outside
- Walking / running
- Cycling
- Gardening
- Being with animals
- Photography
- Smells e.g. scented bath
- Music
- Mindful eating
Ways to feel connection from others
- Volunteering / working
- Reaching out to someone else
- Smiling back at people
- Using an interactive app
- Noticing a sense of purpose / value to others
Relate
Understanding the relationships between the different pillars of Lifestyle Medicine can allow us to use our strengths to support the areas we are trying to change.
If you deepen connection…
Deepening connection by reaching out to others, or using a journal for some self-connection, can help “park” any worries that might make it hard to sleep
Deepening connection can make it easier to stick to planned movement activities
Deepening connection and sharing a meal with others can encourages you to prepare healthy food
Deepening connection by engaging with others, or being out in nature, can help us process worries and feel less stressed
Deepening connection can give us support to resist using unhelpful coping strategies
The other pillars can help you deepen connection by…
Sleeping better can make you feel more interested in connecting with others and with nature
Moving more can create opportunities to be with other people and encourage you to be outside and connect with your environment
Eating well can be an experience to share with others
Reducing stress can allow time with others to feel more connected
Minimising unhelpful coping strategies can improve the sense of belonging when you are with others
Knowledge Library
Here are some more insights you might find helpful to explore:
Self-Reflection
What do you notice when you feel more deeply connected? What helps you feel more deeply connected?
You might find it helps to keep a note of the things that particularly support you with connection, so you can refer back any time you need.
