August 3 is Friendship Day 2014
The first Sunday of the month of August is celebrated as Friendship Day every year. Although the tradition of having a dedicated day to celebrate friendship was first initiated in the U.S., today many countries across the globe have adopted the culture. In India, the celebration is widely seen in colleges, where teenagers tie colourful friendship bands around each other's wrist. But friendship goes beyond these bands. It's about realising and appreciating the importance of having friends in life. So, this year, as the day approaches, let's take a look at how friendship plays an important role in influencing healthy behaviour.
1. Reduces stress: Nothing on earth can be more refreshing than meeting a dear friend after spending 8-9 stressful hours at work. You might not have loads to talk about or share for the day, yet the presence of a friend by your side can be completely de-stressing.
2. Lessens your worries: Your close friends will always make you realise that you're not the only one facing such problems. Knowing that you're sailing in the same boat gives you the strength to deal with it.
3. Helps you overcome depression: Whether you're going through a painful breakup or you have just been fired from the job, a friend will always be there to listen to your side of the story. No matter who's at fault, you know you will have someone to backup and support your decision, telling you that things will fall into place. They help you develop a 'let go' attitude that helps you overcome the most depressing phases of your life.
4. Boosts self-esteem: You may be a fool for the entire world but your close friends will always be the ones who trust in your abilities. They kind of make you realise your self-worth, and help boost your confidence.
5. Inculcates healthy habits: If you have a friend who is health conscious and just loves being fit, you are more likely to develop healthy habits. Think about it, a friend who abuses you for drinking a lot, encourages you to quit smoking and forces you to get up for an early morning jog is indirectly making you a healthy person. Further, the strength of your relationship with that friend influences your future choices related to your health.
6. Promotes mental health: Having a healthy discussion with a friend is a good way to keep your brain active. A study published in the journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science revealed that a having a 10-minute intellectual conversation with friends, has a direct connection between social general intelligence.. That's one of the reasons why people tend to remember things better when discussed in a group.
7. Makes you a happier person: It's just impossible to get bored with friends around. Whether it's a completely senseless topic or an embarrassing situation that you get caught up in, your friends will make you laugh about the stupidest things possible. In short, they make you a happier person at heart by helping you extract joy from the smaller pleasures in life.
8. Keeps chronic diseases at bay: Social ties have a positive impact on various bodily processes. They can reduce blood pressure, lower heart rate, as well as stress hormone levels. Studies have noted that people who have a strong social life are less likely to develop heart disease, hypertension and even cancer.
9. Promotes fast recovery: If they can keep you away from diseases, they can even help you get back on your feet when you're sick. Several studies have linked a lack of social ties with delayed wound healing and recovery due to impaired immune function and lowered production of inflammatory bio-markers.
10. Increases your life-expectancy: Having supportive friends helps delay the ageing process. Besides, friends make your life meaningful and purposeful. They give you a reason to live by generating a sense of belonging. They make you feel that somebody cares for you and will be there till the end.
Image source: Getty images
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References:
Debra Umberson and Jennifer Karas Montez. Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint for Health Policy. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour.
