Community Involvement = Better Health

From the Ceridian Corporation:

Many studies have shown that close relationships with others can improve your health and help you live longer. In fact, a new study has found that personal connections within your community could actually have a greater impact on your health than your genes. The study, led by Dr. Takeo Fujiwara of the National Institute of Public Health in Japan, involved identical twins and found that the siblings with a strong sense of belonging and community involvement were healthier than the siblings who didn’t feel as connected to their communities, even though they shared similar DNA and backgrounds.

These findings are important to consider as we end a year that has been difficult for many people. We often isolate ourselves as we struggle to overcome the challenges of financial stress, job worries, hectic schedules, and other daily demands. But it’s important that we maintain close social ties and that we think and live more communally so that we can better support and depend on people within our community. In this newsletter, you’ll find tips to help you establish and strengthen connections within your community.

Expanding your community
Make an effort to grow your personal network whether yours is large or small. Connecting in new ways with new people will allow you to respond to your community’s evolving needs. Here are a few ways to meet new people:

· Join a club, class, or other group. Try a hobby club, an exercise class, or a group sponsored by your house of worship. Joining a group allows you to meet others with similar interests.

· Take a walk. Walk your dog or take a stroll through your neighborhood. Chances are you’ll meet other walkers, dog walkers, and residents who live near you.

· Connect with co-workers. Attend your company’s social events. Enjoy a lunch or coffee break with a co-worker or two. Extend an invitation to a co-worker you don’t interact with often. Try introducing yourself to someone new every day.

· Take the first step. Don’t wait for others to approach you. Introduce yourself to people that you’d like to meet. Strike up a conversation with someone at a social gathering, with someone waiting in line next to you, or with a parent at your child’s school.

· Be prepared to reach beyond your comfort range. If you feel uncomfortable introducing yourself to a group of people who already know each other, try approaching just one person at a time. Then ask to be introduced to the rest of the group.

Cultivating a sense of community
The practical and emotional support of a close-knit community can help ease stress and increase your sense of belonging, security, and self-worth. Here are some ways to help foster that sense of community:

· Host an event. Plan a dinner, movie night, game night, or holiday party. Start a hobby group. Invite friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and introduce them to each other. Or invite friends and neighbors to a potluck dinner. It’s much easier on the budget, and fun sharing everyone’s favorite dish.

· Volunteer. Getting involved in local civic or social programs will help you become more engaged in your community. If you need help finding volunteer opportunities in your area, ask other people about their experience with local volunteer programs. Your local newspaper and your house of worship may also be able to provide information. You can also search for opportunities in your area on Web sites like VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org) or Points of Light Foundation (www.pointsoflight.org) by entering your ZIP code and interest or skills.

· Build a sense of community in your neighborhood. Get to know your neighbors, and help them to get to know each other, too. Invite some neighbors over for coffee or dessert. Organize a neighborhood event, such as a block party, scavenger hunt, progressive dinner, community yard sale, or softball game. Start a walking group or neighborhood-watch program.

· Network. Don’t just network for yourself, but connect others who can help each other as well. You might be able to connect a parent with a tutor for her child, a neighbor with a handyperson who’s looking for odd jobs, or a co-worker with a colleague who can provide some expertise on an important project.

· Start a time bank in your community where every hour you spend doing something for a neighbor -- from child care to garden work to transportation -- you earn a “time dollar” to spend on something you want someone to do for you. Visit TimeBanks USA at www.timebanks.org to learn more about time banks, including how to start one in your community.

· Stay in touch. Connect frequently with friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. It’s hard to find time to catch up with everyone you know, but staying in touch allows you to be aware of people’s needs and it can make it easier to find support when you need it. If you have difficulty staying connected, try sending a short e-mail or making just one phone call a day. This will allow you to strengthen your relationships even when you’re busy.

While feeling connected to your community won’t make you immune to every stress, disease, and challenge, it can offer the support you need to get through difficult times. By creating a sense of community and updating your social ties, you can improve your health and the health of those with whom you develop close relationships.

© 2008 Ceridian Corporation. All rights reserved.