With all the social media platforms we have, we should have made a lot of friends and felt more fulfilled than the older generation, shouldn’t we? Well, the fact is quite the opposite. YouGov even stated that millennials are the loneliest generation, compared to Gen X and Baby Boomers. Even worse, another survey by the same organization pointed out that 25% of millennials do not have a single friend! But why should you be concerned with this?
Having Friends Contribute Positively to Your Health
From simple companionship at the bar to a more intimate experience like receiving friendship bracelets, having your life surrounded with people who care for you can improve your health. In 2010, having good social ties can increase your life expectancy by up to 20%. It is twice as effective as exercising and is the same as quitting smoking.
However, you should be careful with who your friends are because bad behaviors are indeed contagious. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found out that only by being around an obese friend, your chance to develop the same condition can rise until 57%.
Another benefit of having friends is that it can keep your mind healthy, especially after you reach old age. A study in 2012 linked dementia with loneliness. Those who live in isolation are more likely to suffer from dementia. Therefore, you should start thinking about going out to make friends, especially if you have not seen anyone for the past several months. Don’t take this lightly!
Healthy Activities to Do with Friends
As pointed above, your friends can help you to either improve or worsen your health. Therefore, don’t just make some friends. But you should also make sure your time spent with them is for healthy activities.
First, you can try to ask them for routine strolls in the city parks. Imagine walking outdoor surrounded by green plants under the blue sky with some friends. Not only will it boost your mood, but it can also improve your cardiovascular health.
Second, try to mingle with friends who have sports as their hobby. For instance, kayaking, dirt biking, and cave exploration can give you not only physical challenges but also a rewarding experience.
Closure
Maintaining a healthy social life turns out to be beneficial to both your physical and mental health. Therefore, you’d better pay more attention to your friends and the amount of time you spend with them. Even though we live in the digital era, where everything can seemingly be digitalized, going out with friends the old way is irreplaceable.
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