Ways Boost Happiness and Decrease Isolation
Relationships can be hard to build and maintain, especially under the additional strain of restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. Work relationships can feel stunted because of remote-working or protective measures to keep everyone safe in the physical workplace. Even with these changes over the past year, life goes on, and the basic human need for social connection continues to be critical to finding happiness and decreasing isolation.
It just takes a little bit of awareness.
The Benefits of Friendships at Work
The eight hours a day spent at work can use up most of the energy we have to form healthy connections with others. So, what are the benefits to devoting some of that work time to making friends? Work friendships not only increase happiness but also can positively impact the bottom line. According to a Gallup report, there is a direct link between having friends at work and the effort a person will put into their job. For women, 63% report feeling more engaged when they had a best friend at work.
We’ve consistently found that for women and men having a best friend at work leads to better performance.
– Gallup
Having a Support System
There are many benefits to devoting energy to forming solid connections with others. According to the Mayo Clinic, having good friends is good for your health. It can decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are at peak levels due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Additional benefits of close friends can include:
- Increased sense of belonging and purpose
- Reduced stress and increased overall happiness
- Improved self-confidence and self-worth
- Improved coping skills Support systems to discourage unhealthy habits
For additional resources to help employees combat loneliness, check out this blog.
April 2021 – Hot Topic – Forging Strong Connections
Relationships can be hard to build and maintain. Especially under the strain of too much time together or apart. In this month’s Hot Topic, Human Performance Coaches Molly and Yana discuss how you can build, maintain, and repair relationships of all kinds. Listen to the podcast for tips to get started.
Every month, Aduro’s Content and Media Labs team produce a Hot Topic podcast. This is a sample of what our members experience through their well-being program. Aduro creates interactive digital content for our members that resonates, motivates, and engages them towards making impactful positive changes in their lives.
Take-aways from this month’s session:
- The relationship you have with yourself forms the foundation for how you relate to others
- To build strong relationships, releasing comparison and tuning in to our needs is essential
- The work isn’t a one-time tip or trick; it’s an ongoing conversation where each person can share who they are and what they need
- There are opportunities within each relationship to be more intentional
If you missed March’s session about Challenging Unhealthy Thoughts, check out this article to find helpful tips to improve your mood and decrease self-judgment.