Westlake Wellness
Connecting with family and friends is crucial for emotional support, as it significantly contributes to improved mental wellbeing and a sense of belonging. It should be simple to connect with loved ones, but in an increasingly digital world, it requires intentional effort.
Set healthy boundaries – Limit screen time to connection rather than using it for comparison to others. Focus on quality communication about daily life, emotions and wellbeing.
Catch up regularly – schedule weekly video calls or online game nights to stay connected.
Variety is the spice of life – messaging apps, social media, and collaborative platforms are all ways to communicate with friends, family, school, workplace, and the wider community. Use a variety of these tools, and don’t simply rely on one of them for all communication.
Real-life connections – When possible, meet with friends for meals, walks, or study sessions. Face-to-face interaction is so much more enjoyable, and it is easy to read body language and spoken nuances. Digital platforms don’t always communicate these.
The strategies above can help students maintain meaningful relationships with family and friends while balancing their digital and real-world interactions. It is important for us all to remember that the digital world is not the only way to communicate.
Some ways to encourage students offline could be:
- having screen-free meal times or specific times during the week when together
- Going on walks
- Attending sporting events together
- Watching a television show or movie together
- Being involved in a volunteer or community project.
By Elizabeth Beaumont