The Health Benefits of Socializing

4 reasons to connect with friends

 Socializing can provide a number of benefits to your physical and mental health. Did you know that connecting with friends may also boost your brain health and lower your risk of dementia? If you need reasons to help justify spending extra time lingering over coffee with a friend, or setting aside time in your busy schedule to connect with family, read on.

Research shows these main benefits of having an active social life:

1. You may live longer. People with more social support tend to live longer than those who are more isolated, and this is true even after accounting for your overall level of health.

2. You will enjoy better physical health. Social engagement is associated with a stronger immune system, especially for older adults. This means that you are better able to fight off colds, the flu, and even some types of cancer.

3. You will enjoy better mental health. Interacting with others boosts feelings of well-being and decreases feelings of depression. Research has shown that one sure way of improving your mood is to work on building social connections. 

4.You may even lower your risk of dementia. More recently, there has been accumulating evidence that socializing is good for your brain health. People who connect with others generally perform better on tests of memory and other cognitive skills. And, in the long run, people with active social lives are less likely to develop dementia than those who are more socially isolated.

Convinced of the benefits of socializing? If so, you may be looking for ways to boost your social engagement. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Use Skype or Face time to catch up with family and friends from a distance.
• Walk through your neighborhood and make a point of stopping to say hello to people you meet.
• Babysit your grand kids or help them with homework.
• Sign up for a class at your local recreation center, library, or university.
• Attend religious services at your church, synagogue, or temple.
• Sing in a choir or play music in a group.
• Volunteer at your favorite charity organization.
• Visit a museum with a friend and chat about what you see.
• Participate in a neighborhood or community group.
• Play a group sport like lawn bowling, golf, or croquet.
• Have a friend or family member over for coffee or tea.
• Play cards or board games with others.
• Exercise with a friend by walking, swimming, or going to the gym together.

Source: www.psychologytoday.com