More Good Days Together: 6 Social Connection Activities for Improving Mental Health

For the month of May, the Hogg Foundation is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month we’ll be highlighting this year’s theme, “More Good Days, Together,” with a focus on the diverse experiences that shape mental health journeys and resilience within Texas communities.

This post was written by Jerica Dykes, a member of the Contributor’s Circle at the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. The views expressed in this post do not represent those of the Hogg Foundation.

Taking care of your mental health is a process. We often talk about our regular self-care or wellness as a solo activity. Take a group of people and ask “What do you do for self-care?” and some of the answers you may hear are: I journal. I garden. I take a bubble bath. And while there are many things we do alone to support our wellbeing, we also can support each other’s wellness regularly. Can you think of time that you were struggling with depression and needed to turn to a friend for support? Or perhaps you were the friend in this scenario.

Human connection and how we show up and support each other is essential to our mental health too. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, social connectedness is one of the needs that must be met for humans to be able to focus on a higher level of mental and emotional needs. Here are everyday ways that you can have More Good Days, Together:

Go for a walk with a friend or neighbor.

Physical activity has positive effects on not just physical health, but can be impactful on mental health – particularly in individuals with depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health and Mental Health America. You can get fresh air and sunshine by taking a short stroll in a nearby park or your neighborhood. If the weather is bad or you just prefer being inside, you can take your walk indoors by walking around a local mall, indoor track or treadmills.

Level up this activity by making this event a recurring activity. Be accountability partners for each other’s mental health!

Host an exchange or swap.

Pick a hobby or activity you really enjoy doing and get together with friends or family to do an exchange. Each participant can bring something to share and exchange with others.  Some common ideas for items to exchange include food, clothes, plants, or crafts. Don’t have friends who enjoy the same hobbies or interest? Look online for swaps in your area and join an existing one!

Level up this activity by attending regular exchanges!

Enjoy a meal together.

Eat out or dine in with a friend or family member. This is an opportunity to take intentional time to disconnect from electronics and enjoy the company of someone else. It gives you the opportunity to catch up while ensuring one of your most basic needs is met. In the hustle and bustle of daily responsibilities at home, work, and school, many people find themselves missing lunch or simply forgetting to eat. Stepping away to a favorite restaurant with your work bestie or an evening of dining in with your long-time friend can refuel both your belly and your mental health.

Level up this activity by making it a homemade meal, together!

Join an online community.

Living in a modern digital era, there are many online communities. Pick a hobby you enjoy and put your search skills to the test! You might be surprised to find several online communities that fit your interest. And if not, you can always start your own. Online communities allow you to connect with others who share similar passions about a hobby or interest and exist for a range of activities like gaming, crafting, cooking, and even bird-watching. One benefit to online communities is that membership can span from your local area to across the globe. Some platforms that you can find them include Facebook, Reddit, and Discord.

Level up this activity by joining multiple online communities for different hobbies!

Connect with a pen pal.

By doing so, you can cherish memories by writing to an old friend or create memories with a new friend. While pen pals historically meant taking a pen and paper and writing a letter to someone, today, it can be done electronically to save postage cost. However, writing to your pen pal can still be accomplished with a classic pen and paper plus an envelope and a stamp.

Level up this activity by including Happy Mail – fun, small tokens such as stickers, handmade items, affirmations, or snacks. In the case of digital pen pals, Happy Mail can include electronic stationary, affirmations, or virtual goodies.

Join a reading group.

Reading groups, also known as book clubs, are a group of people who read the same book and gather to discuss it. Get a group of your friends together to create your own reading group. Or if you are not up for the challenge, you may be able to find and connect with an existing reading group through your local library or a community center. Reading lets you escape from your own everyday world and temporarily invites you into another world – the story being told in the book.

Level up this activity by meeting frequently to discuss what has happened already and what you predict will happen next.

These are just some of the many ways that we can support each other. We don’t have to wait for things to be bad to do so. Doing activities for our wellbeing in our daily lives with others can help us to have More Good Days, Together.

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