How to Maintain Social Connections as You Age
When you’re in school, it’s impossible to avoid being social. After all, you’re constantly in contact with the same people. As you join the workforce, you trade classmates for coworkers and clients. But as you age, maintaining your social network requires intent and action. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to keep it going strong.
Nurture Your Network
Reach out to your friends, family, neighbors, church members, and others. Make it a point to nurture the social connections that you have with those you are already close with. Then, work to build stronger connections with those you’d like to know better. Try to keep in regular contact. If you aren’t physically close, use phone calls or social media to close the distance.
Volunteer
Find a cause that you care about. Choose a skill that you want to share. Select an organization that you want to work with. Then, volunteer your time and talents. Volunteering is a great way to spend time with other people who share your interests. It can help you nourish existing connections or make new ones.
Join a Club
Are you a fan of classic cars? Do you delight in playing cards or bowling? Are you eager to get healthier by walking regularly? When you have an interest, there’s probably a club for people who share it. Joining a club can be a fantastic way to connect with other people who enjoy similar things or goals. It can help foster connections and encourage friendships as it provides an outlet for your interest or support for your efforts.
Take a Class
Are you curious about how you can use digital editing software to make your photos look better? Have you always wanted to learn to knit? Has the doctor suggested it’s time to master some heart-healthy recipes? Taking a class can be a great way to discover new ideas and meet interesting people. Alternately, you can take a class with friends as a way to refresh your connection.
Use Social Media
Technology is found in increasingly user-friendly formats. With touch screens and various online tools, it’s fairly easy to use the internet to connect with friends and family. While you might need a little help getting started, once you’ve got some momentum established, it’s simple to stay in touch.
Make a Move
Getting out and about can become more difficult as people age. This can lead to increasing isolation as friends are less available. Moving to a senior living community can be an ideal solution. As a resident, you’ll be surrounded by neighbors who are similar in age and have plenty of opportunities to interact with them. After all, senior living communities keep bustling calendars of engaging activities and events for their residents. You’ll even have extra time to enjoy the fun because you won’t have to worry about chores like cooking and doing laundry.