Social-Connectivity Drives Employee Well-Being
Humans are innately social. We are wired to connect. The health benefits of social connectivity and feelings of belonging within a group span from increased mood, decreased blood pressure, life expectancy and more.
“Research has shown that the more connected we are socially, the longer we will live and the faster we will recover when we get ill. In truth, isolation and loneliness puts us at a greater risk for early disease and death than smoking. Authentic social connection has a profound effect on your mental health—it even exceeds the value of exercise and ideal body weight on your physical health. It makes you feel good. Social connection triggers the same reward centers in your brain that are triggered when people do drugs, or drink alcohol, or eat chocolate. In other words, we get sick alone, and we get well together.”
Exercise, meditation, eating well, and getting enough sleep are crucial for good health, yet social-connectivity deems a vital part of well-being.
According to Dr. James R. Doty, a clinical professor in Stanford University School of Medicine’s Department of Neurosurgery, "Social connectedness is a predictor of longer life, faster recovery from disease, higher levels of happiness and well-being, and a greater sense of purpose and meaning."
What is it about social connection that drives these benefits? How can we cultivate these sensations in a remote workforce? Consider these neurological experiences through the lens of virtual applications. How can we leverage technological tools to intentionally enhance social-connectivity?
Enter the “feel good” neurotransmitters of endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.
Here are 3 ways to enhance social-connectivity in remote workforce via the “feel good” neurotransmitters.
ENDORPHINS: “Endorphins lower stress levels, reduce pain, and produce feelings of well-being and happiness.” (1)
Smile when joining your Zoom meetings. Doing so releases endorphins.
Whether your camera is on or off, don't forgot to smile when you enter your next zoom meeting. According the Psychologist and Integrative Mental Health Expert, Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, doing so can release endorphins.
DOPAMINE: “Dopamine communicates with brain cells and encourages them to act in a pleasurable, excitable, euphoric way.” (2)
There are real life people on the other end of the Zoom thumbnails. Feel into social connection during "alone, together experiences".
As you feel into the other people joining your Zoom meeting, wish them well. Consider how you are apart of a group, even if you're not physically next to one another.
SEROTONIN: “Serotonin is the key hormone that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. This hormone impacts your entire body. It enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with each other. Serotonin also helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion.” (3)
Drop a warm message to your coworker in chat. It could trigger the release of serotonin and oxytocin.
Even in a virtual workforce, we can enhance social-connectivity, ultimately increasing well-being. Leverage technology and practice the simple behaviors above to optimize your feel good neurotransmitters. Try one of two of suggestions this week and observe any changes you might experience in your mood, health, and over-all well-being.