I speak to organizations about workplace connection, authentic networking, and the small relationship-building habits that help people communicate better, collaborate more easily, and feel less alone at work.If your team or audience needs a more honest, practical conversation about connection, learn more or inquire here:https://www.cassthompson.com/speakerOr email me at Cass@cassthompson.comWe pay a lot of attention to our physical health. We track our sleep, protein, workouts, supplements, even our VO2 max. And over the last 20 years, we’ve gotten much better at talking about our mental health too.But there is a third part of our health most of us aren’t thinking about nearly enough: **social health.**So many of the interactions that used to happen naturally have disappeared from our lives. We can work, order food, exercise, shop and entertain ourselves without speaking to anyone. We thought about what we were gaining, but we didn’t think nearly enough about what we were losing.This is about why connection isn’t just nice to have, how to look at your own social health through **structure, function and quality**, and where to start if one of those areas needs attention.And no, this does not mean you need to become an extrovert, find 50 friends or suddenly have plans five nights a week.It does mean people probably need to move a little higher on the priority list.**WATCH NEXT:** 10 BEST Places to Meet NEW People In 2024 → [VIDEO LINK]**ALSO MENTIONED:** The self-care advice that can quietly make loneliness worse →https://youtu.be/jiEFbteup9E What the viral loneliness videos are missing → https://youtu.be/mtgMXbbf8kQ Over the next three episodes, I’m also looking at three things making connection harder in modern life: convenience, customization and comfort.00:00 The Missing Piece of the Health Puzzle02:27 What Is Social Health?03:10 How Connection Stopped Happening15:35 The Framework: Structure, Function, Quality19:39 Where to Start**SOURCES & RESEARCH:**- U.S. Surgeon General, *Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation* — social connection framework and health evidence: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf- Sommerlad et al., *Association of social contact with dementia and cognition: 28-year follow-up of the Whitehall II cohort study*: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31374073/- Cohen et al., *Does Hugging Provide Stress-Buffering Social Support?*: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797614559284- Smith et al., *The association between loneliness, social isolation and inflammation*: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32092313/- Berkman and Syme, *Social networks, host resistance, and mortality*: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/425958/- Sandstrom and Dunn, *Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties*: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24769739/Want to reach out but not sure what to say? Get the FREE "But What Do I Say?!?" Connection Messages Guidebook to steal our words and take them as your own! https://www.cassthompson.com/connectionSHOP AMAZON to See our Favorite Things! It's no extra cost to you but it does give us a small percentage for giving you the recommendationSHOP → → → https://amzn.to/2QfWCV8If you want to see EXACTLY what I buy, check out all my Favorites, in my store HERE: www.amazon.com/shop/cassthompsoncareeradviceINFO 🌟Check out our Founder's other channel for job search advice: https://www.youtube.com/c/cassthompsonconsulting DISCLOSURE 🌟Thank you for trusting me with my honest and reliable opinion on any future purchase you may make. I always disclose affiliate or sponsored information when it is the case. As a part of our community, you allow me to earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my affiliate/referral links. This doesn't affect you in any way in the checkout process unless I've been able to arrange a discount for you that is special from other customers.
