When people talk about workplace wellness, physical health often takes the spotlight with discussions around exercise, diet, and medical care. While these are undoubtedly important, there’s a crucial aspect of employee wellbeing that frequently goes unnoticed—and that is our social health.
Loneliness and social isolation can have severe implications for our overall wellbeing. A recent meta-analysis of over 2 million adults found that each can increase the risk of early death by 14% and 32%, respectively. At the same time, America has been undergoing a long loneliness epidemic that the pandemic only exacerbated. So how can employers fight this loneliness problem and help employees forge stronger social relationships?
One increasingly popular approach is to focus on social fitness.
In this blog, we’ll explore what this idea really means and how companies can combine it with physical activity for a more well-rounded wellness program.
Just like we need regular exercise or physical activity to keep our bodies healthy, we also need to exercise our social muscles to keep our skills sharp and stay mentally and emotionally healthy. In this regard, social fitness refers to a person’s capacity to
These abilities are especially crucial in work environments where employees must be able to communicate effectively and empathetically with each other to solve problems and resolve conflicts.
Unfortunately, social fitness levels have been declining in recent years.