Free resources for social
Belonging & connectedness fostered through engaging in meaningful activities and supportive relationships is positively correlated with physical and mental well-being.
Cedulify’s Recommended
How Do You Connect?
It’s important to know how to connect. It can be difficult for someone else to help you feel that connection. Read this article to find out more!
Fun Time With Friends
Go to a concert
Exploring a new place and enjoying your favourite music with friends can be a great way to have fun. Music has been proven to benefit mental health. Find out more about the benefits of music by reading this article.
Family meals
Creating family meals can be a great way to have fun with family, to listen to each others’ day, and to resolve any tension that may be present. One therapist claims they may be out of business if everyone were to have regular family meals. Find out why Anne Fishel makes this claim by reading this article.
Have a paint night
Art is a low-pressure way to have fun while creating something. Many art studios hold parties where you follow the instructions of an expert. The classes can last a few hours. To find virtual classes, we invite you to read about it here.
How to love
When you love someone, how do you show them? What do the people you love mean to you? Love is such an important thing to give, as it is to receive. To foster love, we invite you to watch this inspiring 17 minutes TED talk on how one person can spread love, light and joy.
Time for socials
Sometimes we put aside our social needs in order to prioritize other responsibilities. However, it is important to make time for our social lives. Social interaction can be beneficial for people with mental illness. We invite you to read this article to learn more about this topic.
Go to a dog park
If you have a dog, you can interact with others by talking about your pets! To learn about the benefits of going to a dog park and how dog parks work, we invite you to read about it here.
Building Skills With Buddies
Learn a new language
Learning a new language with a friend can be a fun way to develop a skill. To help you get started, we encourage you to start learning to communicate in American Sign Language. Buy the guide on Amazon!
Volunteer together
Volunteering can be a great activity. It has the potential to help you develop your identity, feel part of a community, feel a part of something bigger than your own existence and so much more. Find something you're passionate about and explore volunteering options with your best friend. Read more about it here.
Fostering Connections With Friends
One act of kindness
Making connections is important. That said, some people find it difficult to form lasting relationships but in reality, starting a relationship is not too complicated. We can connect with people through kindness. One act of kindness can change your life and the lives of others. We invite you to watch this 6 minutes TED talk.
Story time
Storytelling is good for mental health. The benefits include helping you form connections with others and helping you feel more positive emotions. Tell a story to a friend, listen to your friend’s story, or make one up together. Read more about it here.
Togetherness in sports
Playing sports can be an excellent way to get your body moving while engaging in an exciting activity with a friend or two. This activity can be quite beneficial in many dimensions of health. To learn about what sports to do in Canada, read this article.
Friendship ninja
The ability to communicate with people is important and like a ninja, you need to know how to use effective listening and communication tools and skills. It is also important to know yourself in order to know others. To learn more about the art of connecting with your friends, we invite you to watch this 18 minutes video.
Communication
Connecting with a loved one requires communication that is fun, interactive, honest and effective. It can be difficult to communicate well when each person perceives the same message differently. That's why we invite you to watch this informative 12 minutes TED talk on the art of good conversation.
Cuddle
Cuddling a close friend or a family member promotes the release of feel-good hormones. Feeling a physical connection is part of the human experience, and we need to create opportunities to feel the intimacy and joy it brings. Read this article to find out more!
Watch a movie
Instead of going to the theatre, gather your friends to come over and watch movies at home. It’s cheaper, and you can pause, talk, and rewind parts if you want. To view a list of great movies that effectively depict multiple facets of mental health and mental illness, click right here.
Take a fitness class
Looking to improve your fitness? Want to see your friends? Why not combine both and join a fitness class together? This could have a positive impact on your mental and physical health. To access some fitness classes, click right here.
How do you connect?
Before connecting deeply with a friend, it is important to know how to connect. If you can't assess your needs or desires in interpersonal situations, it can be difficult for someone else to help you feel that connection or to promote the feeling of connection in someone else. Learn more about the subject by reading this article.