In this podcast (episode #564) and blog, I talk in regards to the importance of friendships, and the way they’ll impact our mental health.
Friendships are a stupendous a part of life that contribute a lot value to our lives in so many wonderful ways. However, in recent times, researchers have noticed a decline in people’s social circles and variety of friends. They have attributed this decline to many reasons, including the recent COVID pandemic, which left us more isolated and disconnected, and the upper cost of living, which suggests that an increasing number of of use spend less time hanging out with family members and more time working to survive.
In a recent article in Women’s Health on this “friendship recession”, journalists note that “the typical 30-year-old has shed 4.5 friends for the reason that start of the pandemic.” Although it’s normal for friends to return and go as we get older, move homes, change jobs and so forth, these statistics are notable. As the article points out, “our social stock is crashing – and people bonds are vital for health.” According to the Mental State of the World 2022 Report, our ability to keep up meaningful friendships and connections had reduced dramatically, and never only for 30-year-olds. One report points out that 18-24 12 months olds usually tend to have no close friends than those aged 75!
Several other aspects have also contributed to our current “friendship recession”, as noted within the article above:
- Moving to a recent location, whether for work, education, or personal reasons, can disrupt existing friendships and make it difficult to keep up connections.
- Individuals coping with mental health issues may find it harder to keep up and nurture friendships, contributing to a way of isolation.
- Changes in communication patterns, including a reliance on digital communication over face-to-face interaction, also can influence the standard of friendships.
- Our society’s disproportionate concentrate on individual success on the expense of community.
This truly is a health crisis. Friendships profit our lives in some ways, while also contributing to our mental and physical wellbeing. As I actually have said over and over on this podcast, community is an important a part of our health!
There are many advantages to having friends, including:
- Encouraging healthy behaviors. For example, friends may motivate one another to exercise, eat well, and interact in other wellness activities, leading to raised brain and physical health.
- Better brain health as we age. Research shows that friendships can contribute to a lower risk of cognitive decline and conditions like dementia.
- Opportunities to develop and practice social skills, which may be useful in various facets of life. These skills include empathy, lively listening, and conflict resolution.
- A reduced risk of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Friends can offer emotional support, companionship, and a way of belonging that contributes to mental well-being. University of Oxford researcher Anna Manchin notes how friendships may give us “a beautiful flood of neurochemistry, including dopamine and beta-endorphins.” True friends make us feel what Manchin describes as “euphoric, warm, content and deeply bonded.”
Here are some ways you’ll be able to concentrate on the friendships in your life:
- Be intentional: make a conscious effort to prioritize and invest time in your friendships. Set aside time for social activities and maintaining connections.
- Focus on the standard of your friendships fairly than the amount. Deep, meaningful connections may be more fulfilling than many superficial relationships.
- Remember that the ebb and flow of friendships is a natural a part of life, and it’s normal for the number and closeness of friendships to vary over time. It’s also possible to strengthen existing friendships and cultivate recent ones with effort and intention.
Not sure where to start making recent friends?
- Take up a recent hobby to satisfy individuals with similar interests to you.
- Do an Airbnb experience or tours via platforms like Viator, Tripadvisor in your area.
- Volunteer at an area non-profit or organization.
- Go to work out classes.
- Join a social club, or, if you happen to are spiritual, an area church, mosque, or synagogue.
- Join a meetup app to see local events in your area and meet recent people.
- Try to do less things online. For example, as an alternative of shopping online, exit with a friend or plan to work out with a loved one as an alternative doing exercise alone at home.
For more on friendship and mental health, hearken to my podcast (episode #564). If you enjoy listening to my podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star review and subscribing. And keep sharing episodes with family and friends and on social media. (Don’t forget to tag me so I can see your posts!).
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Akarawut Lohacharoenvanich
Originally published by Dr. Caroline Leaf. Used with permission.
