Most people want a social life. Even introverts desire to be social on a limited basis. Wanting to be social and actually getting out there and creating the happy and healthy social life you want are two different things. It takes effort to be social and sometimes there are barriers that prevent your chances.
Two of the barriers that prevent your chances of being social are
- Not making your social life a priority
- Putting limits on your opportunities
Your social life needs to be a priority
Wishing won’t make something happen. Wishing you had a vibrant, healthy, and happy social life won’t make it magically appear. It has to be a priority and you need a strategy. Here are some great ways to make your social life a top priority-
Schedule time in your week to be social – Getting something on the calendar makes it more likely to happen. When you schedule your week, include free time for fun activities you enjoy. It could be going to the gym, taking a class, or a meetup with friends for coffee. No matter what it is, get it on the schedule.
Encourage others to be social – It can be hard to get buy in from your family to take time away to be social. When you encourage everyone to have a healthy and happy social life, it becomes a natural part of your family life. Encourage others to do things they love on their own, with friends, or with the family so it’s a normalized part of your family’s lifestyle.
Don’t put limits on your opportunities
If your social life isn’t what you want it to be, it’s important to take any limits off you may be imposing. There are common limits people put on their social life that prevent their chances of being social. Be sure to avoid these traps-
It’s not selfish to be social – A lot of people put a moral judgement on taking time for themselves. It is healthy to want to recreate or do fun things. It is a form of self-care and shouldn’t be denied. Taking reasonable amounts of time to be social and do fun things is important and will make you healthier and happier.
You can create your ideal social experience – You may have an idea for what you’d like to do to be more social. If the opportunity is there, you’re game. What happens if there isn’t an opportunity? Make one! If you long to do an activity or engage a certain group of people and there isn’t already something in place, create it. Be the leader you need and take charge. Create the group or the opportunity to get together and encourage people to join in. If you have an idea for a social event, take the lead and make it happen.
People want to be social, but they are quick to let roadblocks stand in their way. Don’t let common barriers to being social stop you from having a great time. Make being social a guilt-free priority and be willing to create the social life you’ve always wanted.
