While caring for our health and wellness is our personal responsibility, we can often achieve our goals and create lifelong habits with the help of those around us. Studies have shown that social connection can increase longevity, strengthen the immune system, improve recovery, and boost mental health, while a lack of connection can cause physical and psychological health to diminish (Stanford Medicine1). The following ways can be used to build wellness through community, relationship, and connection.

Find Support and Encouragement

Establishing healthy habits that last can feel like a lifelong journey. Finding support along the way provides encouragement and reinforcement. Working with others and sharing our experiences can make the process feel less lonely. Even the strongest habits can go through seasons of obstacles and difficulty. Creating connections with family, friends, and coworkers helps us work through life’s hardships while building stronger strategies for our health and wellness.

Accomplish Goals Together

Our community can help us reach goals together. As you strive for healthier habits, a support system around you will provide additional accountability, motivation, and even friendly competition. Peers push us to stick with it and keep going through the more difficult days. Community support can come in many forms, such as sharing recipes, meeting at the gym for a workout, or starting a step challenge. Working with people who share like-minded goals brings a level of awareness, encouragement, and celebration that is uniquely understood by those on the same journey.

Be a Role Model

Building healthy habits as a family and community can start with you. As we work to prioritize a healthier lifestyle, we can be role models to those around us. Habit building does not have to be a lonely process. Rather, we encourage others to join when they see how valuable and important these efforts are to us. As we exemplify healthy behaviors, we pass on the significance of health and wellness to younger generations.

Gain Inspiration

Plateaus and boredom can stall our best efforts to form lasting routines. Help and support from the loved ones around us can offer renewed inspiration to our strategies. They can see perspectives and bring ideas to the table that we don’t always think of ourselves. Our community can spur excitement and momentum when we need an extra push to continue towards progress.

Build a Sense of Purpose

A 2022 study showed evidence of “adults with the highest sense of purpose had a 46% lower risk of mortality” and “are 24% less likely to become physically inactive, 33% less likely to develop sleep problems, and 22% less likely to develop an unhealthy BMI” (Psychology Today2). Our relationships, community, family, and loved ones are often key factors in shaping our sense of purpose in life. As we engage with others and strengthen these connections, we add more meaning and intention behind our efforts.

Continue Reading August 2026 Newsletter: A Blue Zones Approach to Physical Activity