Want to be healthier? Meet with a friend!

It's 1938. A group of scientists from Harvard University gather several hundred men to start a journey that will become one of the longest lasting social research ever. From then on, every two years, the participants would be asked about different psychological and physical health questions and some variables that could potentially affect them. Participants come from all sorts of backgrounds and socio-economic statuses to reduce bias in this area. New ones are added later, to increase sample size and observe generational differences.

Jumping to today, thanks to this research, we know that the most important factor influencing our health in the long run are the good relationships we build and maintain throughout our lives. Taking care of how are your relations with friends and family should therefore appear regularly in our calendars, just like regular exercise is!

Here are some of my ideas of what exactly you can do to strengthen your relationships. Please share yours in comments!

• Organize a weekend trip or a common holidays with a group of friends
• Schedule some sports activity (e.g. going to gym) with a friend
• Schedule some regular calls with friends/family that are not living nearby
• Set a goal to visit different restaurants with friends/spouse once a month
• Go to a painting workshop together with friends (or organize one!)
• Go to a music festival together with people you'd like to catch up with
• Organise "Our Day" with your loved one and brainstorm together how to make it amazing. How about a pillow castle and watching movies? :))
• Challenge yourself to make some fancy food together with friends or family
• Play one of the growing list of relationship building games with your close ones
• Go volunteering (or run an own social project) together
• Try therapy when you feel you're loosing connection and have no clue how to bring it back

These days, when we get more and more separated by commuting, or remote work limitations, it's even more essential to stay connected, so I challenge myself to have at least one meaningful social event a week. Really curious to know your ideas!

In case you lack people you could connect with, scientists suggest volunteering as a place where it's easiest to find new friends. Just search for a social cause that you resonate with and ask for some volunteering opportunities there! No functioning NGO would refuse a motivated volunteer knocking their doors! :))

Source:

Mitchell, J. F. (2004). Aging well: Surprising guideposts to a happier life from the landmark Harvard study of adult development. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161(1), 178-179.