Good relationships are one of the most important needs of humans. They impact our mental and physical healths, as well as overall well-being. Our evolution as humans is one that emphasized social bonds, friendship and community as key survival strategies. And till today, the quality of one’s life remains largely dependent on the quality of their relationships. This invariably explains why loneliness has been recognised as a cause of mental health problems such as depression.
Maybe you already know that. But it does not end there; loneliness and social isolation are also associated with a number of physical health issues, including hypertension, high cholesterol levels, obesity, memory disorders and even premature death. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO), last year, declared loneliness as a threat to global health. The Organisation also stated that lack of social connection can increase the risk of premature death, as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily. So, the next time you remember the popular warning from the Federal Ministry of Health that “smokers are liable to die young”, remember that lonely people are too!
What are the benefits of friendship?
The close relationship between social connections and your health makes healthy friendship a necessity. In addition to the health benefits, friendships also improve your overall quality of life in numerous ways. These include:
- Boosting your happiness and reducing stress
- Heightening your sense of belonging and purpose
- Enhancing your self-confidence and sense of self-worth
- Helping you navigate difficult situations such as divorce, illnesses, job loss or death of a loved one
- Celebrating your beautiful moments and forming pleasant memories
- Encouraging and keeping you accountable in your healthy living journey.
How can you develop good friendships?
Making new friends and keeping existing ones can be challenging, especially during adulthood. Life events bring about changes in priorities and location, both of which tend to push friendship to the back seat. Thus, developing friendships may require deliberate efforts. But the benefits make the efforts worth it. Here are some ways you can make new friends or keep existing ones:
- Attend community gatherings: Identify and join groups or social clubs that meet over an interest or hobby you share. This allows you build social bonds with individuals with similar interests.
- Volunteer: Volunteering for a social cause that matches your interest is also a good way to meet new people and form strong bonds with individuals of similar interests and passion.
- Don’t decline every invitation: When you get an invite to a social gathering, accept it. You can also reciprocate the gesture by extending an invite to someone who once invited you to a social function.
- Develop new interests: Taking up a new interest such as dance, sports, or fitness are healthy ways to meet new people and become part of an active community.
- Stay in touch with colleagues at work or school.
- Reconnect and keep communication lines open with old friends.
- Reach out and introduce yourself: If anyone strikes you as someone you would want to know more, either a neighbor or a colleague at school or work, reach out and introduce yourself.
- Create time to connect with your family members.
It is important to state that when it comes to friendship, quality matters more than quantity. Thus, while having a vast network of friends is good, you can be fulfilled by nurturing a few close and meaningful relationships. Ultimately, remember that investing time and efforts into building effective relationships offers promising prospects for your health and overall quality of life. The good part? It is never too late to start.
This post was inspired by the 2024 International Friendship Day, celebrated on July 31.
