When you think of times spent with your friends, you probably can't help but smile. Those memories that you have made together will forever remain etched in your mind as crucial moments that helped to form those friendships. As important as we know friendships are, the busier our lives get, the less we seem to make time for our friends. When we enter relationships, we prioritize our new partner and getting to know them better knowing that those friendships will always be there. When we have kids, there barely seems to be enough time in the day to shower, let alone hang out with friends. As much as you believe that putting your friends on the back burner is just a sacrifice of fun, it may turn out that you're doing a disservice to your health as well.
A study performed by researchers at Northwestern University looked at a group of 50 older individuals and many of them who were in the best health gave the credit to their busy social lives. Of the 50 people that were evaluated, 31 of them were considered "SuperAgers", people who are over the age of 80 and who are considered to have "episodic memory and impressive cognitive awareness." The other 19 were considered cognitively average-for-age peers.
All 50 participants had to complete a questionnaire that asked them about their mental well-being. What the survey discovered was that the thing that made the SuperAgers stand out from their cognitively average-for-age peers had to do with how they answered questions about relationships. The SuperAgers claimed that the relationships they had in their lives were more satisfying, warm and trusting than the relationships that their "average" peers had.
These findings match up to previous studies that have shown that positive relationship experiences can help to reduce declines in mental health suffered as we age. Past studies have shown that friendships might even be more important than diet, exercise, and relationships with family members when it comes to health and that having friendships can lead to less stress and longer life.
There was even some evidence that suggested that you don't have to have a pact of friends to experience the health benefits of friendship. One of the participants who was a SuperAgers claimed that her secret was to smile at everyone, ask them how they are, and to always make an attempt to remember names. She also says she calls her friends every day, even if it's just to say hello.
Maintaining friendships isn't easy, especially as your life gets more complex, but if ever there was a reason to schedule that hang out session with your bestie that you've been meaning to do for the longest time, this is it. Not only will you have a great time, but your future self will thank you for it!