Being social is not just for Christmas

In the age of social media, it is easy to think that you are connecting with others.

In a world where half your meetings are online, it is easy to think you know fellow employees even if you are separated by timezones.

In lives defined by busyness, it is easy to fill up your days jumping from one thing to the next.

And you may be in the same house for 12 hours a day with your family but how much of this time do you spend giving others your undivided attention?

Social connection has been proven to super charge teams and communities, happiness and living a long, healthy life.

One of the world’s top neuroscientists, Professor Matthew Lieberman, has described social connection as “a fundamental need, essential for survival and success, much like the need for food or shelter.”

Humans who communicate more deeply to create and maintain connections with others live longer.

If you’re still unsure, the longest running scientific study ever has come to the same conclusion.

The Harvard Study of Adult Development has found that strong social relationships are the most important factor in determining long-term health and happiness.

People with warm social connections had lower rates of diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and better immune function……and live longer.

And research into high performing teams in sport, medicine, business, the armed forces has discovered that they have better, deeper connections defined by habits like high levels of mixing, lots of questions and active listening.

So in summary, if you want to live longer and do better work, spend time with other people and make the effort to genuinely connect with them.

Being social is not just for Christmas.