Definition
Regular socializing is an enjoyable way to improve your mood, communication skills, and cognitive performance.
How to Do It
Engage in social activities on a regular basis.
These activities can range from having dinner with your family to going to a party with your friends.
You should actively seek out interactions with acquaintances too.
In-person socializing in preferable to online text-based or phone communication.
Benefits
Time Commitment
30+ minutes
Why it works
- Socialising can increase your feeling of belonging within a social group and/or community, which may improve your mood, reduce stress and make you happier [1].
- Socializing involves many different mental activities. For example, you need to recognise facial expressions, tone of voice, and effectively translate your thoughts and feelings into spoken words. Engaging all of these cognitive faculties makes them easier to use after social interactions [2].
Suggested Frequency
At least 2 to 3 times a week
Side Effects
This exercise may only produce benefits if your social interactions are positive. Your mood may be worsened by negative interactions [4]. Try to stay friendly during your regular interactions and stay away from people that may ruin your mood.
Gurus/Celebrities/Doing it
Tom Hanks
Oprah
Matthew Perry
Johnny Depp
Notes
People who are more social also tend to have better physical health [3]. Whether or not more frequent socialization can improve someone’s health is not known.
If you get anxious about social situations, this habit can be used as ‘Exposure Therapy’, which should help you in the long run.
Supporting Studies and Articles
Expand Collapse- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0146167214529799
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167207310454?casa_token=aDxrX6dPscUAAAAA:9F_NQx5cJgcRlzn9qsrX7k_iplvwLc5mqchWVzaX-pjc8sun34EDpeCKrKCv18FHW_e40Y2EyXap5g
- https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163551
- https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1984-25835-001
