If you think about it, your social circle continually changes as people move to different places and pursue new horizons. To keep your social life active, make sure you regularly build new connections based on shared interests. “Although it might seem hard, staying open to new experiences is key!” says Hayley Flott, PDRMA Wellness Consultant. “Taking some time to think about how to grow your connections based on shared healthy interests can help you expand your supportive social circle and reap the benefits of a healthy social life.”

Whether you decide to start volunteering, join a new club, attend community events or become part of workplace activities, you can expand your social circle and make even more connections. Below are a few examples of each.

Clubs

Look for clubs or groups that align with your values, goals, hobbies or even professional development. These connections are natural starting points for conversations and shared experiences. Your local community may have a garden club, Kiwanis, Lions Club, investment club, Rotary Club, historical society and many other areas of interest. You can check online or with your local library to see what groups meet regularly near home or work.

Volunteering

You can find volunteers throughout your community. Volunteering offers amazing opportunities to meet like-minded people while contributing to a cause you care about. You can have meaningful experiences and build camaraderie by offering your time at a local hospital, zoo, community center, pet adoption center and almost any place where people gather.

Community Events

Participating in a community event is an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and meet people at parties, gatherings and networking events. Ask coworkers or check neighborhood websites for events such as local community concerts, classic car shows, holiday parades, lunchtime yoga classes, home improvement seminars, cooking demonstrations or art fairs to enjoy.

Workplace Activities

You can even find new people to meet at work through sponsored activities. Use PATH to invite your coworkers to participate in challenges such as a 1-day Super Stepper, Weekend Walk-Off or Weekday Step-Off challenge. In PATH, go to the home page, then the Social menu at the top of the page and click Challenges, Create challenge and choose which challenge you would like to create. “Once you create it, you can invite friends to join!” suggests Flott. “You can keep each other accountable and earn PATH points. You will receive 50 PATH points for creating the challenge and 100 points for joining one.” You can also create a PATH Group and start a chat about wellness. At the top of the home page go to the Social menu, then Groups and Create a Group. Add people you may not know well to expand your circle and find inspiration!
 
In addition, your agency’s Wellness Ambassador can create an agency activity for employees each quarter. You’ll earn 100 points for participating in it, so if you have an idea for an activity, suggest it to your Wellness Ambassador!

Introverts Need to Get Social Too

For those of us who prefer our alone time, it’s still important to seek out social moments and connect with people. If social situations make you a bit uncomfortable, take some time to prepare yourself before you dive into something new. But don’t let your comfortable routine hold you back, because the benefits will be worth it! ”Start by doing something small, and work your way up to bigger events,” suggests Flott. “If you have a coworker you feel comfortable with, ask them to go for a lunchtime walk or grab a healthy lunch together.”

Variety Is the Spice of Life

It's wonderful to have a variety of people in your network. Everyone has a unique perspective that you can learn from. Do you know the people who grew up in your neighborhood as well as those who relocated there? The older ones, as well as the younger crowd? Do you work with people from different generations who you enjoy talking to? As you grow your connections, you might find your social group includes veterans, athletes, business owners — and every occupation under the sun. How wide is your social group, and can you make it even wider?

“Building friendships takes time and a bit of effort,” Flott observes, “so don't get discouraged if you aren’t besties right away! Keep reaching out to nurture relationships over the long haul.”

Growing your social circle will help you create a stronger network of meaningful relationships that can bring you great joy, support and motivation — and ultimately improve your overall wellness.