The Endangered Engagement

“Strong legs, strong heart.”

Lesley-Ann Green, Tai Chi master

My Tai Chi master kept on saying this to us when our legs start cramping or the wobbly Elvis-leg kicks in after a long class. The older we get, the more we sit. Inactivity has an enormous impact on our heart and general health.

We sit, we die. 

Easy as that. 

Movement doesn’t only keep our hearts healthy, but it takes us places, get us involved with activities which often includes other people. Guess what? Regular face-to-face social interaction also keeps us healthier for longer. Ever wondered why scientists say women, in general, live longer than men? One of the factors, they reckon, is that women are much better at seeking out social interactions than men, which in turn become the foundation of strong bonds and long-lasting relationships.

Watch this incredibly engaging TED talk by Susan Pinker, The secret to living longer maybe your social life.

Not only does regular social interaction fire off oxytocin and dopamine to make you feel happier, it also lowers your chances of infection, heart disease and memory loss.

"People who are chronically lacking in social contacts are more likely to experience elevated levels of stress and inflammation. These, in turn, can undermine the well-being of nearly every bodily system, including the brain." 

Jane E. Brody (June 12, 2017)

This goes even further with numerous studies being done on dementia:

“When they analyzed the data, the researchers saw that loneliness — as measured at the start of the study — was associated with a 40 per cent higher risk of developing dementia over the 10-year follow-up.”
Catharine Paddock PhD (31 October 2018) 

But is loneliness and social isolation the same thing?

Nope. Catharine Paddock explains:

“A person can have lots of social contact, be surrounded by people, and "be socially engaged" but still feel like they do not belong. In this case, they would score low on social isolation but high on loneliness.”
Catharine Paddock PhD (31 October 2018) 

The conclusion we can make is that our social engagements must be deep and meaningful for it to make us feel that we belong and that we are truly supported. No surprises there, but for some reason, people still need to hear it. Which brings me to the next point.

Social media is doing very little for our need for physical interaction. We trick our brains that we are making contact, reaching out and engaging in conversations and debates. It’s an illusion, people. Social media is an entry point to start a conversation. Nothing more. We still have a body with hormones that evoke feelings that release more hormones that in turn makes us healthier and more resilient. A real-life high five with the postman will release more of the good stuff than that high five on Facebook from your mom. And it's not just about feel-good hormones, it's about neuroplasticity, learning behaviours, anticipation, planning, empathy, emotional intelligence... The list goes on. We need to be engaged on a physical level until the time comes when we all can be a brain in a jar.

Until then, get up from your behind, stretch your legs, throw away your television (insert here: all devices that tethers you to a plug sometime during the day) and truly engage in the world around you.

Strong legs, strong heart.
Long, happy life.