Social Health
The Missing Piece in Your Wellness Routine
Gym besties!
I’m thrilled to share that we are finally back on a regular, monthly schedule with our newsletters. I skipped the June edition because life was life-ing, but I really do love sharing health & wellness tips with you all and I’m excited to be back to giving you the information that matters for your wellbeing.
As you’ve probably noticed, we spend a lot of time talking about physical health. We talk about what we eat, how we train, how much we sleep. So this month we’re going to be highlighting an aspect of your health that gets a lot less attention — your social health.
You may be thinking: “Hallie, you’re just telling me I need to hang with my friends to be healthy?” Yes and no. And I want to get into it because while talking about social health can raise some (minor) contradictions, it is a critical component of your holistic wellness and should be seen as integral to living a full, happy and healthy life.
What is social health?
Social health is about the quality of your connections with other people, including friends, family, coworkers, your gym buddies, and even your neighbors. Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the amount and visibility of the research on social health (the former US Surgeon General was known for his groundbreaking report on the loneliness epidemic). Ultimately, what we are finding is that strong social connections can literally help you live longer.
Like... 50% longer. Which is on par with quitting smoking or starting to workout regularly. Because feeling disconnected or lonely increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, and even premature death.
But don’t worry! If you’re reading this and thinking “it’s not my fault I’m lonely sometimes” we’re going to get into some of the ways you can build community and connection to buffer your system from these risks.
How social health fits into the big picture
The simple way to think about it is this:
Physical health = how your body moves and functions
Mental health = how your mind processes and copes
Social health = how connected, supported, and valued you feel
And you’ve probably experienced firsthand how each of those influence each other.
Good relationships help you sleep better, reduce stress, lower inflammation, and make it easier to stay active and stick to your goals (for example, you’re probably sleeping better if you’re not being stressed out by your toxic ex, right?)
But what about “less healthy” social habits?
Sometimes the things that make us feel connected, like grabbing drinks with friends, going out to dinner, or staying up too late laughing, aren’t always seen as “healthy.”
But here’s the thing: connection is healthy. So if a little red wine and a late night once in a while keeps you from feeling isolated or burnt out, that’s a tradeoff worth making. One takeout meal won’t ruin your progress, but one quality social interaction can improve it.
Remember that it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. Just like we balance movement and rest, we can balance health-conscious choices with the joy of shared experiences.
How to start building your social health (without forcing it)
Whether you’ve been feeling a bit isolated or just want to strengthen your social circle, here are a few simple ways to take steps towards a healthier social life:
Text someone first
You don’t have to wait for an invite, try reaching out to someone you care for. A quick “thinking of you” message goes a long way.Add people to what you’re already doing
Taking a walk? Invite a friend. Cooking dinner? Call someone while you chop veggies. Going to a fitness class? Bring a buddy (especially to my classes!)Make small talk matter
You don’t need deep convos every time. A good chat with your barista or a joke with a coworker adds to your connection “bank.”Join something consistent
Whether it’s a group workout, a volunteer gig, or a hobby meetup, regular, shared experiences build real relationships.Say yes to low-stakes plans
Not every hangout needs to be a big night out. The little moments like coffee, a walk, a lunch break FaceTime all count.
Final thoughts
In today’s ecosystem, we spend a lot of time on social media. Social media is an interesting place because it can often give the illusion of a thriving social life while also further isolating us from meaningful connection. Unfortunately, liking someone’s photo on Instagram is not the same as having a deep relationship with them.
Simultaneously, getting older can make it harder to find and keep good friends. I have had countless conversations about the challenge of making friends as an adult.
The good news is, a little bit goes a long way. You don’t need 100 close friends to have a healthy social life, you don’t need to be on Instagram to be connected to others, you don’t need to feel fulfilled every day to know that you have people in your corner when it matters.
If there’s one message I hope you take away from this newsletter, it is this: social connection is good for you and worth pursuing. Having fun with friends does not detract from your health goals, it amplifies them. And every person can have a healthy social life even if that isn’t their reality today.
I encourage you to use this newsletter as a sign to step out of your comfort zone. This month, I want to challenge you to think about your social health like you would your workouts or your nutrition. What’s one small thing you can do to feel more connected this week?
It might be the healthiest move you make all month.
