Social connections

At WALX Coast and Country we do try to encourage the social aspect to our walks, but do you understand the importance of making connections and maintaining these relationships?

Loneliness, poor quality or negative connections can influence your mental health, as well as reducing your thinking skills.  They have a negative impact on your brain functionality and effectiveness.  Positive connections can support someone’s brain health, emotional and physical wellbeing, as well as your quality of life. The research suggests social interactions are just as important, as healthy eating and physical activity, with a lack of connection shortening and negatively impacting our later years.

Simply by laughing and talking, you can stimulate mental attention, and memory.  Releasing feel-good neurotransmitters (e.g., Oxytocin and Dopamine) from activating the brain.  All of this contributes to the positive outcomes mentioned above and more.

One thing to note, is the quality of the connections is vital in making a difference to your health.  It isn’t always the quantity, but the type and depth can help with feeling happier, with fewer health problems, therefore living longer. A face to face or emotional connection, not allowing technology to dominate your approach.  It could be a cuddle with a dog or a shared interest with someone at a workshop.  You can slow down cognitive decline, lowering the risk of dementia and stress.  Your lifestyle can influence your cognitive reserve.   A way of protecting the brain from age or disease-related changes.

So many positives.  Too many to mention!

As we age, our social connections do reduce, and with more technology the quality of our connections could be improved, so to stay sharp and improve our brain health, why not join one of our evening pub walks over the summer.

As well as joining clubs, other ideas to connect include helping with a pet, teach someone something, anything…  You may be an expert gardener or baker.  Volunteering or even sharing a smile can go a long way.  Reconnect with old friends or even start to say ‘yes’ more, creating opportunity.

With loneliness awareness week coming in June, let’s use May as a way to build on our social interactions.

Let’s stay connected.