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Humans are social creatures. Much of our happiness and development rests on having plenty of positive social interactions. Nothing fuels the soul like spending time with your loved ones. Whether it’s a night out with friends or a weekend with the family, spending time with those we love can really boost our mood and leave us feeling refreshed.
However, getting enough of these interactions on a daily basis can be challenging. Life tends to get in the way and the days seem to just shrink. Still, it’s important to make time for social interactions,
Just like spending time working out can benefit your physical health, so can spending time with those you love. Positive social interactions can help your body reduce stress and increase your cardiovascular health. Furthermore, some research points to a stronger immune system when people can interact and fuel their souls. When you interact with like-minded people, you’re more likely to workout, partake in healthy activities, and have a well-balanced diet – all things essential for peak physical health.
When you’re having a bad day, who do you turn to? You probably call up a good friend or talk to your partner. These positive social interactions are good for your mental health, as well as your cognition. When you can let off steam or vent to a loved one, he or she can help you work through the problem.
Furthermore, taking part in group activities can also help your mental health, reducing your depression and anxiety. These activities don’t have to be rigorous. In fact, a simple dinner out or a Saturday afternoon playing games is a great way to stimulate your mind, lower your stress level, and help re-shift your focus back to things that matter to you. Social interactions also keep your mind sharp and your spirits high, no matter your age.
As we age, social interactions are essential to keeping us young. Spending too much time on your own or by yourself can lead to feelings of loneliness or feeling out of touch with family and friends. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors and therapists heavily recommended that people utilize the technologies at their fingertips to stay in touch with loved ones and friends. Now, these interactions seem to be a part of our daily lives. Virtual movie nights, dinners, and cooking episodes where everyone gathers in on a Zoom call or Google Hangout have become norms in many households, and are especially nice in households where family members live far away.
According to Medical News Today, “direct person-to-person contact triggers parts of our nervous system that releases a ‘cocktail’ of neurotransmitters tasked with regulating our response to stress and anxiety.”
These findings and suggestions corroborate the research done in a study that concludes romantic partners can help each other relieve physical pain just through interaction and touch. Additionally, if you or someone you know is living with cancer and is going through treatments, positive social interactions could also impact the success of their treatment. When people feel loved and valued, they’re more likely to respond well to a taxing experience such as chemotherapy.
Furthermore, social interactions can help our brains improve memory functions, which helps us recall events and protect our brains from neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.
