Something that is always recommended for people struggling with their mental health is to take some time for themselves. While this is great advice for those who are feeling extremely stressed out, it’s not always a fix-all solution.
Some people find a lot of support in a group, and others might already be feeling isolated, so they don’t want to spend even more time alone. In that case, socializing can be a very effective tool for self-care, but it must be approached with caution.
Socializing for self-care can either be beneficial or detrimental, entirely depending on how you go about it. There are plenty of ways to be social. You can find a group with similar hobbies and interests and spend your time doing those things with them.
You might also have a group of friends from work or school that you enjoy spending your free time with, and this can be done anywhere. Many groups like to do some fairly common activities, like going out to bars or doing various things like attending sporting events.
Hang Out With The Right People
One tricky thing about socializing is ensuring that you’re hanging around the right people. It’s crucial that you surround yourself with people who are going to help better you or act as a support system.
You don’t want to get involved with people who have skeletons in their closet, people who are manipulative, and so on. These kinds of people will burden you in your life, detracting from your self-care efforts.
Choose Healthy Activities
Even if you’re hanging out with the right people, you’ll want to be sure the things you’re doing together are being done right and in a productive way. If you’re blowing through a ton of money going out all the time, but are struggling with finances, try to plan some cheaper activities to do together.
Similarly, it’s fine to go out to bars with friends, but if you’re getting heavily intoxicated regularly, you’re not practicing any healthy behaviors there. As long as you do it right, socializing can be an incredible way for you to help better yourself.
You’ll make new friends, build a support system, and be able to share your joy with others. Being able to laugh and have fun with people without worrying about the outside world is almost magical, and it can help you in so many ways.
As long as you’re doing things right, you’re going to feel a lot better before long. Find a balance for working productively, tackling other self care issues and adding socialization to your schedule for a well-rounded, enjoyable life.