We are social beings. Developing and nurturing social networks is key to supporting our emotional (and other) wellbeing. At times, it can be especially challenging to develop or maintain a network – for example, if we’re living away from home for a period or have experienced an unexpected change in personal circumstances.
It’s especially important that we feel connected in a blended working environment, when we may be spending some of the week working remotely and out of sight of colleagues. Being able to connect and take the time to speak with colleagues allows for a rapport to develop over time and – ultimately – leads to a more pleasant working culture for everyone.
There’s other ways to improve your social wellbeing beyond chatting with colleagues. Joining a club or taking up a hobby can help to widen your social networks.
Volunteering your time to a good cause or community-led organisation is also a great way to feel involved and connected – if that sounds like something for you, remember that the School offers a generous volunteering leave benefit to staff.