Do you spend enough time with friends? As we get older, hectic schedules and obligations start to interfere with our social life, but it’s important to make a little time when you can – your health and happiness depend on it! A study published in the British Medical Journal found that every close, happy friend you have increases your own happiness odds by 9 percent. And studies show that happy people with healthy social lives actually live longer!
Friends also help protect you from illness by lowering your stress, which is known to slow your immune system. Of course, this doesn’t apply if you’re hanging out with sick people spreading their germs around!
And let’s not forget about the benefits friends have on your health and fitness. Working out with a buddy makes you much more likely to keep with an exercise plan.
If you surround yourself with negative, unhealthy people – which most people don’t – it doesn’t have the same effect. Choose your friends wisely!
So make it a point to make more time for friends, and family too! They’re just a phone call away!
