Being part of one or more communities is beneficial to everyone’s health and wellbeing. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services stated that approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Therefore, the need for community is at an all-time high.

What does it mean to be part of a community? It is about people coming together and creating beneficial relationships through shared interests, values, experience and goals. There are many ways people can benefit from being a part of a community.

Decide What Benefits Are Important

Support
If someone is struggling with a difficult health issue such as divorce, drug abuse, trauma or another challenging situation, a support group is a great idea.

Networking
While these groups often help with gaining new business or referrals, they are also an opportunity to gain support and education.

Education
A community can make learning more fun and rewarding. Whether a group meets to learn about new business skills, religion, politics, or how to sew, learning within a community is a fulfilling opportunity to grow and share with others.

Entertainment
There are many groups designed around hobbies or sports which is a great way to have fun while building friendships.

Creating Life-Long Friendships
Some groups are designed with the sole purpose of meeting to make new friends. It could be a hobby group or a group that just meets for drinks or dinner.

Helping Others
Whether joining a support group or doing a volunteer activity, giving back can help forge lasting relationships and create feelings of goodwill.

How to Search for A Community In-Person and Virtually

A community doesn’t necessarily have to meet in-person, though there are definite benefits in doing so.  Meeting in-person allows people to feel the energy in the room, avoid at-home distractions, and engage in various activities with others.  Meeting virtually is an option as well, as it can be flexible and more easily accessible. Plus, it does not limit the opportunity to connect with others outside of commuting distance.

 

When looking for a community online, a person can search Google for “virtual community groups,” visit local calendars and read content to get inspired from organizations that align with their interests. One can search on Mighty Networks or on Facebook as well. When looking for an in-person community, people might search for a fitness class, a church group, a volunteer group, or search Meetup, the Bumble App, or Facebook, or local calendar pages.

How to Evaluate a Community

This may be different for everyone. However, every community should have a clear purpose whether it be to learn something, to network, to enjoy a hobby together and so forth. Ideally, a community has some rules in place, and rules are enforced by the organizer. One disrespectful, rude, or negative community member can ruin the experience of the whole community.

 With the right community, it should feel like a safe and comfortable space. Community members don’t have to share all the same values (i.e. politics or religion), unless it is a value that the group is formed around. But more importantly, it ought to be a space that is respectful of other people’s differences.  

Jena Ehlers is the writer of the blog The Wellness Resolution. Her goal is to help people better understand their health choices. The Wellness Resolution uncovers many of the misunderstandings and deceptions about health, and it helps people to discover what it means to live a wellness lifestyle. Ehlers is a wellness coach, business owner, writer, and an artist.

Photo credits: Main: courtesy-of-pexels-matheus-bertelli-3797402; Second: Community-courtesy-of-pexels-dio-hasbi-saniskoro-3280130; Third image: Community-courtesy-of-pexels-monstera-production-5384621;