As we continue to enjoy the outdoors this summer, many of us are spending more time engaging in physical activities, travelling and cultivating social connections. Summer illustrates the potential and the importance of living a healthy, thriving life. Being active within our communities and finding meaning and connections through hobbies, volunteering and socializing are essential parts of thriving.
“Thriving” is more than just surviving. It means reaching a state of social, physical and mental well-being where individuals have access to the necessities of a healthy life including safe housing, nutritious food, and the ability to get around and to participate socially.
According to Wellesley Institute’s recent Thriving in the City report, the annual cost of thriving for a single adult (aged 25-40) in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) ranges from $61,654 to $83,680 after taxes. This cost includes essential needs such as shelter, transportation, healthcare and savings. The cost to thrive in the GTA significantly surpasses the earnings of a full-time minimum wage worker, who, at $16.55 per hour, earns only $25,994 a year after taxes if working a 35-hour week. It is also above the living wage. These gaps highlight, among other things, the need for continued and ready access to public spaces, transportation and opportunities for social participation that are key for people’s physical, social and psychological well-being.
We know social connectedness improves well-being. Connecting with others helps decrease mortality rates, supports cardiovascular health and improves mental health. The activities can be as simple as enjoying a meal with others, engaging in creative projects or travelling locally, provincially or internationally. Social well-being can also be achieved through free activities at local public libraries, in green spaces, at recreational centres and through civic engagement. Though there are many valuable activities that can be enjoyed for free, Wellesley Institute estimates the total cost of social participation for working-age adults is $7,365 per year.
Everyone deserves to have access to healthy social networks and participate in fun, meaningful activities to help them thrive, and policymakers should continue to implement policies and programs that promote and maintain social connectedness.
At the federal level, for instance, the Digital Canada 150 strategy is aiming to provide high-speed internet to 98 per cent of Canadians by 2026, including to those living in rural and remote communities. This is an impactful step toward enabling individuals, families and communities to stay connected to each other.
At the provincial level, the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund is helping non-profit organizations and Indigenous communities maintain public services and programming.
At the municipal level, the Toronto Public Library, for example, offers many free in-person and virtual programs that provide engaging activities and learning opportunities.
Employers can also foster social connections by providing employees with benefits that promote well-being, paid time off, and corporate discounts for leisure activities such as travel and dining, among other things.
Developing policies to promote social inclusion requires effort by many stakeholders, including government, the private sector and funding bodies. A multi-sector approach is needed to help people and communities reach a state of thriving.
Read the full report at Thriving in the City: Single, working-age adults.