Building Community
With the holidays coming upon us, it is a good time to connect with family and friends. Many, though, spend the holidays alone. Loneliness can be bad for your health, causing angst and depression. Having a healthy community is an important part of your wellness plan.
I recommend incorporating some of the following to build a healthy community for yourself:
Volunteer – Choose something that you care about. Elderly citizens enjoy visits either at their home for those that are homebound or at a nursing home. A lot of our seniors are lonely and don’t get very many visitors. Even if you don’t have much to talk about, most like to play games such as dominoes or cards. Others might enjoy you reading to them. Hospitals welcome volunteers. Local animal shelters offer great opportunities and you get to pet and play with animals. I enjoy helping the PTO and teachers at local schools. The great thing about volunteering is that it benefits you as well as the benefactor.
Welcome a pet into your home – This has many benefits. Petting an animal helps with stress. There are many pets out there needing a forever home. Both you and the pet will benefit from the relationship. If you choose a dog, you will both get exercise when you take it for a walk. You may even meet other people when you are out and about. Having a dog with you tends to attract people to you.
Be there for others in your life – Check in on an elderly neighbor. The company will do both of you some good. Reach out to a friend who is going through a rough time. Check in on them to show how much you care. This might help them get through the rough patch more easily, and they will appreciate your kindness.
Meet up with others – The website Meetup.com offers many groups that are based on your interests. I have found it useful throughout my adult life, where I have made many friends. If you can’t find a group that you like, you can start one of your own. You can also reach out to the friends that you have and schedule dates to do something fun. They may not realize that you need them unless you ask.
Organize a monthly neighbors’ night out – Neighbors can either take turns meeting at each other’s homes, bringing a covered dish, or can go to a local restaurant. This will help build a strong community where you get to know each other and look out for each other.
Host a game night at your house – Friends can each bring a covered dish so that it’s not too much work for anybody.
Take a class – Learning new things is good for your brain and makes life interesting. You can find classes at your local college or community center. YouTube is another great resource to learn something new.
Check out your local community center – Community centers are good for connecting with others. Mine offers a line dancing class that is fun, and I get exercise. I have also made new friends from the class. My mom used to go there to meet with friends, play games, and get exercise. She now has life-long friends from her association there.
Join a community garden – There are so many benefits to gardening, which I have blogged about here. Community gardens are a great place to connect with others.
Attend events – This can help you connect with people who share your interests. Facebook is a good resource for finding events in your area.
Even if you are not lonely, these are great ideas to have a well-balanced, healthy life.
Here’s to your health!