The friends effect

Feeling healthy and happy is something we all aspire to, and no matter what stage of life we are at now, there is always room for a little improvement.

It is all too easy to carry on regardless, often unaware of what is really going on with our bodies or how certain situations might be affecting our health and our happiness.  

When you spend time with friends who make you happy, many of our body’s systems undergo positive changes. 

Having friends to turn to during difficult times could buffer the damaging effects of stress on your body. That chat on the phone, or a quick coffee with a friend offer different experiences than online connections. 

Chatting on the phone can be good to maintain friendships. It allows you to hear the tone, intonations and volume of a friend’s voice – all of which give us important cues to how someone is truly feeling and thinking, so we feel supported and loved. 

It is important to invest in our friendships and prioritize them. Here is what I think can help.

Don’t rely on social media.  Try to make one-on-one time for the other person.

Connect in ways that suit you both. Don’t forget to consider the changes happening in the other person’s life.

Don’t assume negative motives. You may be surprised by the response if you initiate contact, but you don’t get the reaction you hoped for. Your effort may be rewarded later.

Accept that friendships change. The big friendship of your 20s might not be the ones that feature highly in your 40s or later.