Page 29 - Seniorstoday Aug 2024 Issue
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diet, and have fewer unhealthy habits
such as smoking and excessive alcohol
consumption.
The presence of friends or family
members can create a positive social norm
and encourage us to make healthy choices.
The importance of maintaining and
Everyone knows the effects of meeting nurturing friendships.
good friends on the psyche. It is important Building new relationships and making
to stress that mental well-being depends new friends is crucial to our social well-
not only on quantitative aspects of social being and longevity.
relationships, but also on their quality. It Being open, approachable, and authentic,
is not just about having many contacts, discovering common interests, investing
but also about maintaining deep and time, and offering support can help you
meaningful relationships. A close bond successfully build new relationships. Be
with a few people can provide a greater patient and give relationships time to
sense of satisfaction and well-being than grow. Use these tips to make new friends
superficial relationships with many and expand your supportive social
people. Laughing together, talking, being network.
happy and content. Forgetting stress and It takes courage and self-drive, especially
anxiety, as well as letting go of physical if you’re not that extroverted, to build a
tension. All of these promote mental well- circle of friends. Friends are most likely
being. You have a feeling of belonging, to be found in the environment or activity
support, recognition and being seen. you feel comfortable in. Take a class, join
The emotional support and a club, or get involved in the community.
understanding you get from social Wherever you find people with common
contacts can help you get through difficult interests, you’ll usually find friends.
times and overcome mental challenges. In a world where digital communication
Studies have shown that people with a is increasingly replacing face-to-face
strong social network have a lower risk interaction, it is important to make a
of depression, anxiety and other mental conscious effort to create face-to-face
disorders. encounters. Shared activities, regular
People with a wide range of social meetings and open communication are
contacts often have a healthy lifestyle. crucial to maintaining a supportive and
They tend to be physically active on fulfilling social environment.
a regular basis, maintain a balanced Building relationships is important,
but nurturing existing relationships is
just as important. Relationships require
continuous work and attention to stay
strong and healthy. That means spending
time together. Either sharing activities,
meeting regularly or just going out for
coffee together.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #62 | AUGUST 2024 29
