‘Me whakawhanaunga’ (Connect) with the people and places that lift us up
As winter slowly leaves and we start to move into those warm summer months, life is starting to feel normal again. We’re easing back into pre-pandemic social activities and routines. For some, it might be an easy, natural process, but for others, getting back into socialising, exercising, and other activities can feel challenging.
Taking the opportunity to connect (me whakawhanaunga) or reconnect is worth it, though—for both our physical and mental wellbeing. ‘Me whakawhanaunga’, is one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, and like all of them, you can take your interpretation of how it can work for you, but here are a few ideas of how you could ‘me whakawhanaunga’.
Connect with people again
When we think about what we do every day to care for ourselves, most of us would say that to be healthy, you need nutritious kai (food) and exercise. But what about social connections?
During the pandemic, some of our social connections fell by the wayside, as with lockdowns, isolation periods and working from home, we weren’t chatting with colleagues or engaging with our teams in person. Get-togethers and those special occasions with friends and whanau (family) weren’t happening. So now is the perfect time to be with people again — especially with the opportunities our kiwi summer affords for socialising outdoors and soaking up that sun.
Simply put, friendships and whānau are good for our health. For me and many others, social connection helps lower anxiety and depression, helps regulate our emotions, leads to higher self-esteem and empathy, and improves our immune systems.
If you’re an introvert, or your social skills are a little rusty, there’s no need to go big or overthink things. Get a few friends together for a Sunday hike or walk along the beach, meet for dinner at a favourite restaurant, or invite a few neighbours or friends over to hang out on the deck over a BBQ. Ensure you communicate what’s best for you and be flexible.
Connect with nature
Summer is a great time to get outdoors, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the beautiful natural environment we have on our doorstep — walking, hiking, fishing, boating, camping, biking, or just relaxing over a picnic lunch at the beach or park — all these activities are easy enough to do, or access and are abundant in Aotearoa.
Here's a picture of me enjoying some time out in nature (had to make sure I catch the biggest fish in the sea!), and a memorable time with my family at the beach.
Research has shown that our environment can increase or reduce our stress levels, affecting our bodies and how we feel. Appreciating and embracing Papatūānuku (Earth Mother) can reduce fear, anger and stress. Exposure to nature makes you feel better emotionally and contributes to your overall physical wellbeing, lowering blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.
Quality time spent in nature can also connect us to each other and the world. In studies that measure brain activity, when participants viewed nature scenes, the parts of the brain associated with empathy and love lit up. But when they viewed urban scenes, the parts of the brain associated with fear and anxiety were activated. Nature seems to inspire feelings that connect us to each other and our environment.
Connect with your body
As anyone who has felt that sense of endorphins running through your blood after a good workout knows, exercise is good for physical and mental health. If your exercise or workout routine has suffered during the pandemic, now is the time to get moving again. So, how to start again?
Easing into things and taking measurable steps will have the most impact. You’ll be more likely to make actual behavioural changes if you set small, successive goals that are easier to achieve. Build up your exercise routine slowly, adding a little more each day, and eventually, you’ll get to a point where your success feeds on itself.
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is about Reconnection. The past couple of years have been tough, and it’s easy to feel disconnected from the people and places that are important to us. Whether reconnecting with someone you have lost contact with, a special place, or even yourself, Reconnect - with the people and places that lift you up, hei pikinga waiora.
