SMC Wellbeing
MEETING NEW PEOPLE
To maintain a positive outlook and state of mental health, meeting new people is a great way to ensure your well-being remains positive.
8 WAYS TO MEET NEW PEOPLE
Sports teams are all about inclusiveness and team bonding to make the off court on court relationships flow and hopefully improve the game! So even if you are not particularly a sporty person, joining a social team will give you the opportunity to be around a group of people similar in age, skillset, and willing to have fun!
Whether it's a study group for a school project or asking a colleague for help with the newest research assignment, offering to host will ensure people think of you when your next assignment comes up. They will know you're willing to learn and help others work in a collaborative way.
START YOUR OWN CLUB
Just like a sports team, starting your own club creates the opportunity for people with the same interests and hobbies to come together. Already, there is a topic of conversation with the joint interest in the club. This is also good because clubs are often open to anyone and everyone so you would be meeting a diverse range of people and more than one person.
GIVE A COMPLIMENT
Although it may seem cheesy or simple, giving a compliment will make the receiver know that you know they are there. Whether it's commenting on their new haircut or their good joke, it will get you noticed for a good reason. For most people, receiving a compliment makes their day and they think about it for a while. This means they will be thinking of you in a positive light and may even give one back.
JOIN A SPORTS TEAM
OFFER TO HOST STUDY GROUPS
This is a great way to not only give back to your community but will also introduce you to a new group of people that have kind and giving personalities as they are also giving up their time for others. Straight away it will set you up for a positive appearance and like personalities.
Inviting someone to get food may seem scary at first, but it is an easy way to start a conversation and a place where you get to sit down and get to know each other. Food or coffee is a great way to grab someone’s attention as people love food and it is a relaxed and friendly environment.
SMILE
This one seems simple, but smiling is one of the easiest ways you can let someone know you. Smiling is contagious so once you smile at one person, they may feel as though they should smile back. This connects you with this person and releases certain chemicals in your brain such as dopamine that makes you happier, which gives the effect of a real drug. Smiling also lets this person know that you are willing to make a friendly effort, also releasing chemicals in their brain which gives them a sense of happiness.
CONNECT ONLINE
In today’s society, there are many ways of connecting with people online through social media. Friending someone on Facebook or sending someone a Snapchat may be an antisocial way of actually socializing. You are able to make the first move by meeting new people and it doesn’t even need to be done in person. This way when you next see this person you would have already chatted or made contact with them in another way, creating a familiarisation that helps connections form.
VOLUNTEER
INVITE SOMEONE FOR FOOD
There are many ways that meeting new people will increase your mental health in a positive way. These include:
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Creating a wider social network.
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Creating new and possibly better friendships.
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Going outside your regular friend group creating new opportunities.
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Other people have the same values and beliefs towards things which gives you a sense of belonging and something in common.
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Other people have different values and beliefs towards things which gives you a different perspective and may encourage you to see their side of things.
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Increasing confidence through practicing meeting new people (you will begin to feel more comfortable the more you do it)
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May encourage you to see how well you could be treated seeing how others treat you compared to your existing friends.
Meeting new people is easier said than done, although it is not impossible. There are many ways to meet new people through the things you love and therefore will probably have the same or similar interests. Although it may seem scary to introduce yourself, or make plans with someone you barely know, it will end up benefiting you in the future. Whether you're a student, a parent or a teacher, the school community is willing to make friends even if you’re unsure.