Description
Friends bring more than just happiness into our lives. Oftentimes, without us evening knowing it, friends bring us deep and meaningful connections that we need to survive and be mentally healthy.
Possible Benefits
- May increase self-confidence
- May help you navigate difficult times
- May encourage you to make healthy decisions
- May bring you a feeling of belonging
- May make you feel less lonely
- May reduce stress
Required Equipment
None. Just you and a friend!
How to Do It
Set aside time every day to talk with a friend on the phone, via text, or in person.
Why it works
- Mental health is just as important as physical health. Good friendships often promote a healthy mindset and bring you much needed emotional support. This can result in feeling better about yourself and can oftentimes reduce stress.
- Adults with healthy and strong friendships often have a lower risk of developing depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure. Additionally, some studies found that adults with strong social circles may live longer than those that don’t.
Time Commitment
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Some people are more social than others and require spending more time with others.
Suggested Frequency
As often as possible.
Suggested Time of Day
Anytime.
Side Effects
Toxic friendships can take a toll on your mental health and cause stress and anxiety. Remember to maintain healthy relationships with people who support and encourage you.
Notes
- Remember, when it comes to friends, quality over quantity. Two incredible friends are better than 10 mediocre ones.
- Friendships in adulthood can be hard to maintain because of busy schedules. Try to set aside time for your friends so they know they are important to you.
- While FaceTime and texting are great, remember that meeting in person is also important.
- Chances are you’re friends because you share similar interests. Use those interests to do activities together. It can be as simple as trying a new coffee shop, going to a museum, or going hiking. The possibilities are endless.
- Remember to reach out to your friends. While it’s nice to have your friend reach out to you, it’s good to be proactive and show your friend you care and are interested in the friendship.
- Adults with strong friendships often see a reduced risk of developing depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure.
Supporting Studies and Articles
Expand Collapse- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860
- https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-friendship
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5937874/
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/adolescent-friendships-predict-later-resilient-functioning-across-psychosocial-domains-in-a-healthy-community-cohort/E8D06DC512C7A0EC720FF767F9E44504
