Good day, Purposeful Hearts! Today’s discussion centers around your social health, a topic we haven’t visited in a while. Instinctively, we know that relationships are one of the primary forces in our lives and the health of these relationships spills over into other aspects of our existence.
Recently, I’ve been reading several books and articles about the impact of our relationships on our physical health and wellbeing, and I’d love to share a few of the findings that struck me most. I’m sure you’re familiar with the longstanding U.S. Surgeon General’s warning labels that notably blanket the sides of every carton of cigarettes, reminding the would-be smoker of the dangers associated with using the very product in their hands.
But, did you know that suffering from loneliness can shorten your lifespan just as much as smoking 15 cigarettes per day? Yikes. We’ve been bearing up under a loneliness epidemic for a while, and this 2023 warning from the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory speaks to how much this problem is growing and affecting our lives.
Beyond this initial warning, loneliness can lead to other negative health outcomes. If you’re lacking personal connection in your life, you’re 29% more likely to suffer from heart disease and 32% more likely to have a stroke. You’re also 50% more likely to develop dementia in your older adult years.
Sigh. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and doomed to experience these health impacts, let me pull you back out of the negativity. With regular care and attention, you can surround yourself with relationships that thrive and nourish you in return. We develop great relationships one interaction at a time, so consider yourself a long-term investor in the people within your sphere of influence. When’s the last time you truly dated your significant other or spouse? When’s the last time you met a long-time friend for coffee? When’s the last time you sat down with your child and talked through life? When’s the last time you read a book aloud, shared a devotion, played a game, or took a no-destination-in-mind road trip with your family?
Caring for your relationships doesn’t need to be difficult, stressful, or costly, but it will take time. If you value eating well, exercising regularly, working hard, and keeping your mind sharp, then investing equal energy in the people God has given you should happen without question. If you’re feeling convicted by today’s message, I’d encourage you to quit reading right now and go savor some quality time with a person who needs you. Your social health checkup is complete, and I’ll see you next week. Go make a connection!
Sources:
Public Health Service. Office of the Surgeon General. Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 2023. Accessed May 5, 2023.
Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLoS Med. 2010;7(7):e1000316.
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