Staying Connected for Your Health

Research indicates that maintaining connections as we age enhances both our physical and mental well-being. Dr. Amit Shah, a geriatrician at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, notes from his experience that factors often believed to be crucial for successful aging, like family longevity or absence of physical illnesses, do not necessarily ensure a positive aging experience. "What seems to matter most is the quality, duration, and nature of your relationships," he states.

Dr. Shah highlights that social contact significantly benefits health, noting it's excellent exercise for the brain and likely more beneficial than crossword puzzles or brain games for improving cognitive flexibility

Sending an email, forwarding an instagram post, giving someone an actual phone call, or even sending a card can all be ways for connecting. Walking down the street and smiling at a neighbor or talking to someone at work; all are ways of noticing other humans in your life and deliberately making a mindful connection with them. The dividends of connecting are way better than carefully staying away from people. It is up to us to weigh the odds of taking small risks of connecting with others or staying in our own heads and making up scenerios that may never happen.