ON TRACK
The facts about friendships and why they matter Finding a likeminded group to socialise with is more than just an enjoyable experience, JUDY RAFFERTY explains the extra health benefits.
H
olidays such as Easter and Christmas are loaded with expectation: family, celebration, friends, festive meals. Yet perhaps it is unlikely that each and every year we will be surrounded by family and friends with whom to share these special annual events. Sometimes being alone on these holidays amplifies our feelings of loneliness and even of isolation. As we age the meeting of new people can become more difficult. The easy avenues of incidental meetings, though our children or through our work, diminish. We lose friends through illness, relocations and even death. On the other hand, many times people have told me that after retirement they have managed to make friends more easily. They have found that their peers seem more open and interested in having contact. Perhaps people have more time and availability. Having friends is an important factor in maintaining good health. Friends create a sense of belonging and the need to belong is a basic human condition. Without it we suffer from loneliness, increased stress, lowered mood, and reduced wellbeing. Connection to others reduces the risk of dementia. It can
by asking another person if they would like to catch up over coffee. If you are invited to something, say yes! Join a club or a group. Being open to new people and new experiences is a way of staying young at heart. Judy Rafferty is the author of Retirement Your Way, A Practical Guide to Knowing What You Want and How to Get It, at all good bookshops and online.
FRIENDSHIP FACTS
reduce the risk of disease and improve recovery speed. Having friends improves immune function and increases longevity. It improves our sense of self-worth so that, if we do live for longer, we can enjoy our longer life more. Does your friendship list need Do you need a top up? What might
you do to actively find and create friendships? Please don’t wait in hope for someone to find you and show interest in you. Reach out to other people. Stay open to getting to know people. Friendships take time to develop. Perhaps risk your pride a little and take a chance
According to a 10-year study by the Centre for Ageing at Flinders University, a strong network of friends is more important than close family relatives for a prolonging life. People aged over 70, but having an extensive friendship network, tended to live 22% longer than those with less extensive networks. It is not surprising that there is further scientific proof, that the company of good friends reduces stress in your life. Additionally, if your best friends eats a healthy diet you are likely to do the same.
"A vote for Labor in Fairfax and Fisher is an investment in a better future for all of us." Authorised by Julie-Ann Campbell, Australian Labor Party (State of Queensland), Level 1, 16 Peel Street, South Brisbane
22 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / May 2022
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Sunshine Coast
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