The Friendship Checkup

"Nurturing our relationships leads to better physical and mental health

One of the simplest things you can do for better health this month is to call a friend.

We often take our closest friendships for granted, but nurturing our relationships pays a health dividend, reports Teddy Amenabar. He writes:

“A growing body of research shows friends are essential to a healthy life — and they are just as important for our well-being as healthy eating habits or a good night’s sleep.

Platonic love trumps romantic love in a number of ways.

People with strong friendships tend to have better mental health and, studies suggest, better physical health. Researchers have found large social networks lower our risk of premature death more than exercise or dieting alone.

A six-year study of 736 middle-aged Swedish men found having a life partner didn’t affect the risk of heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease — but having friends did.

A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a lot of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with few friends. Notably, having a social network of children and relatives did not affect survival rates."

Read the full article on The Washington Post

✨Takeaway: We sometimes take our nearest relationships for granted, but maintaining healthy relationships benefits our health. Strong friendships are associated with both improved physical and mental health.

✨Reflection: How often do you check-up on your friends?

#Friendship #MentalHealth #Relationship #Healthy #Habits #Wellness