This month, ahead of International Day of Friendship on 30 July, we’re focusing on the importance of friendships and the positive impact they have on our happiness and mental wellbeing.
Having friends that are there for us can help reduce feelings of low mood and vulnerability – they build us up, providing the pick-me-up that we often didn’t know we needed. From sharing happy moments and uncontrollable laughter, to being that listening ear and shoulder to cry on when needed, our friends play such an important part in our lives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the things happening in our lives, how we view them and the behaviours we link to them, have increased our risk of depression and anxiety. Having good friendships, focusing on the future and making plans is shown to be a protector for this and improve our mental health.
Connecting with friends and making plans (even if they are cancelled) gives us a pleasurable goal to focus on, helping us to lead the life we want to live. That’s why we’re encouraging all our colleagues to make a plan with friends and tell us all about it… you could even win a hamper of goodies! Find out more here.
Good friendships and the connections we make help form part of The 5 ways to wellbeing. This is a set of simple actions you can incorporate into your daily life, which help you maintain good mental health. They are:
- Connect: There is strong evidence that indicates that feeling close to, and valued by, other people is a fundamental human need.
- Be Active: Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups.
- Take Notice: Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your wellbeing.
- Keep Learning: Continued learning through life enhances self-esteem and encourages social interaction and a more active life.
- Give: Those who show interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy.
We’ll be sharing more about The 5 Ways to wellbeing in the coming months so be sure to keep a look out.