Whether you’re extroverted and gain energy from socializing or introverted, feeling drained after every social interaction. Socializing is something that’s not only beneficial but necessary for a healthy life.

Humans have interacted and socialized with each other as far back as 130,000 years ago. It’s woven into our DNA. We're social creatures, thriving off of support and community.

In today’s article, we're going to be diving into the topic of socializing and how you can use it to create a healthier and happier version of yourself. Keep reading to learn more!

Why it’s important

Socializing is not only a powerful practice for your mental health but also your physical health. In fact, socializing could help you:

• Live longer. Several studies show those with larger social circles are 45% less likely to pass away.
• Lower your risk of dementia. One study shows that women who had a larger social network were 26% less susceptible to developing dementia.

• and cognitive skills, and it may help fight off feelings of loneliness. Being around others may also help us stick to or create new healthy habits in our lives, like exercising or eating healthier.

How to do it more

There are plenty of opportunities to socialize more often in today’s world. With so much connectivity with technology, the possibilities are limitless. Here are a few ideas:

• Talk with coworkers
• Make some small talk with a stranger
• Get in touch with an old friend on social media
• Join communities on the internet with like-minded people
• Facetime your parents and check in to see how they’re doing
• Get active and join a sports team where you can socialize with teammates

The key is to make an effort to socialize. Some things come naturally as it’s part of your regular day. But if you want to create more socialization in your life, you’ve got to put yourself out there and create conversations.

Tips for social anxiety

As you know, socializing could benefit your mental well-being and other factors. Social anxiety can sometimes get in the way of that happening.

Although there are cases where social anxiety requires a qualified therapist or medical expert to help, there are steps you can take on your own to improve it:

• Get a good amount of sleep
• Socialize with people you feel comfortable with
• Learn how to reduce stress with different techniques

You could even expose yourself to specific social interactions in small steps. You could get directions from a stranger or pay someone a compliment. The idea is to push fears that generally cause you anxiety, and eventually, these activities will cause you less anxiety.

Socializing is in our nature, and it can help us improve our overall well-being. And if you deal with social anxiety, you can take steps to improve it.

Relaxation may even be one method that could help. BetterSleep offers guided meditations, breathing techniques, and lucid dream meditations that could help you relax and deal with anxiety more effectively.