The Friendship Boost

We are all aware of all the things that are “good” for our health – eating a balanced diet, getting 7-8 hours of sleep, engaging in exercise, annual doctor visits and decreasing stress.  But we might be able to further optimize wellness by nurturing our friendships.  Various research studies paints a surprisingly positive picture of how our friends and social connections contribute to our overall health and wellbeing, from lowering risk of heart disease to strengthening the immune system.  Try some of the ideas listed below to strengthen your friendships (and boost your health).

Meet & Move – Go for a walk together. Sign up for a yoga or belly dancing class – find something that has always interested you and sign-up with a friend.  Walk the mall as you shop together or go for a tandem bike ride together.  You’ll be much more likely to get out there and move if you have plans to do so with a friend.

Get Away – Explore a different nearby town or city.  Walk to all the “sites” and try a new cuisine.  Or if you can make it happen, take an active vacation together.  Visit a beach to swim, paddle board and walk or head to the mountains for hiking, rafting or skiing. 

Schedule It - Be deliberate about planning time for friends.  Make a standing appointment to get together or every time you see one another, pick a date for your next get together.  Our lives can get busy and it can get difficult to see friends, so schedule your time just like you would a doctor’s appointment.

Be Open – Include your friends in the good times as well as the not-so-good times.  We need to be open to both listening and sharing various aspects of our lives.  Friends can be a great source of support and strength.  They can help us laugh, cry, shout and see things from a different perspective – we just need to be open to it.

Next time you need a little boost, turn to a friend.  Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.