Social wellness is the ability to relate to others and maintain positive relationships with family, friends and co-workers.

It involves using good communications skills, having meaningful relationships, respecting yourself and others, and creating a support system that includes family members and friends.

Social wellness follows these tenets:

• It is better to contribute to the common welfare of our community than to think only of ourselves
• It is better to live in harmony with others and our environment than to live in conflict with them

The Path to Social Wellness

If you are a person engaged in the process of social wellness, you see the value in living in harmony with your fellow human beings, seeking positive, interdependent relationships with others, and developing healthy behaviors.

Are you engaged in the process of social wellness?

• Do I plan time to be with my family and friends?
• Do I enjoy the time I spend with others?
• Are my relationships with others positive and rewarding?
• Do I explore diversity by interacting with people of other cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs?

If you answered “No” to any of the questions, it may indicate an area where you need to improve the state of your social wellness.

Signs of Social Well Being

• development of assertiveness skills in place of passive or aggressive ones
• balancing social and personal time
• the ability to be who you are in all situations
• becoming engaged with other people in your community
• valuing all kinds of diversity
• treating all people with respect
• developing and maintaining friendships and social networks
• the ability to create boundaries within relationship that encourage communication, trust, assertiveness skills, and conflict management
• being in a social space that allows for fun, laughter, and encouragement

Ways to Improve Your Social Health

• Schedule regular dates with friends/significant other
• Surround yourself with people who care about you
• Schedule regular time for my family
• Set limits with friends about how much you can support them
• Share a fear, hope or secret w/ someone you trust
• Spend time with others whose company you enjoy
• Stay connected with important people in your life
• Call, check-in on, see other relatives
• Spend some time alone every day
• Spend time with pets
• Make time to reply to personal emails, letters, calls
• Allow others to do things for me sometimes
• Reflect on relationships and whether or not they make you someone you like to be
• Do not be afraid to get to know new friends
• Ask for help from friends/family/mentors when you need it

 Berea Fast Facts:

• click here for on campus resources related to achieving optimal social wellness
• There are over 145 different clubs and organizations here at Berea College that satisfies different social needs. There are academic clubs, dance clubs, and many more
• Just a few of these are Student Government Association (SGA) and Campus Activities Board (CAB)
• Campus life and Residential life set up events several times a year for an opportunity to interact and participate with the college community