One of the biggest buzz words in wellness as of late has been resilience. In the past 18 months or so it has been a true test of our ability to deal with high levels of stress and prove just how resilient we are.
The focus when it comes to being resilient has often been on the individual. What are the things you should be doing to improve yourself and ensure when life throws you lemons it doesn’t put you completely off course? But one of the most important factors isn’t about you. It’s about the number of social connections we have. Our support network.
It makes sense when you think about it. When life springs a surprise on you, what’s the first thing you tend to do? Ring your mum, meet up with your best friend or go for dinner with your partner. We’re social beings and having those trusted people around us helps keep us together when the going gets tough.
Across the pandemic those that have coped the best have used the regular phone calls, Zooms, Whatsapp group sessions and just about every other video conferencing tool known to man. And although they have been brilliant for keeping us going, arguably in-person, human contact is even more important for us. Which is why as the world begins to open back up, re-connecting in the flesh with colleagues, friends and family only serves to reinforce and strengthen that support network.
Our social connections are amazing for when we are at our most desperate and in need, as many of us have been. But they are also vital for the good times and enjoying ourselves. Both of these things are a big part of resilience. The ability to be able to spring back into shape, back to our normal selves. For many of us getting back to normal life, it will be about finding that balance between working from home and getting back into the office, being around people again. The former may seem more attractive, but arguably the latter is even more important for us on a human level.
