You’ve probably heard the expression “there’s safety in numbers.” Getting a group of friends together is a great way to feel safe and supported, whether you’re all going out into the world to do something or hanging in one spot to enjoy a hobby together. Group activities like board games, sports, trivia nights, and other outings aren’t just fun— they’re an important part of maintaining your mental and physical well-being. Read on as we explore the benefits of social activities.
Live Longer
Studies have found a correlation between loneliness and serious physical and mental health problems. People who are less lonely, who maintain strong social connections with family and peers, tend to live longer lives. Loneliness can be a strong stressor, and prolonged states of high stress can have a dramatically negative effect on your overall well-being.
Keeps Cognition Sharp
Being around other people can challenge us, asking us to match wits with them, expose ourselves to new perspectives, consider unusual or difficult questions, even inspire us to educate ourselves. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that research has found that regular social activity has a positive effect on our cognition. Doing social activities improves our memory retention skills; it can also lower the risk of dementia and other forms of mental decline.
Promotes Exercise
A great motivator for exercising is to do it with a workout buddy (or group). Doing partner sports like racket sports, boxing, or one-on-one basketball is a great way to build stronger social bonds while also getting in an intense workout. Group activities like running and team sports can also be an effective means of bonding while burning calories. A major benefit of turning exercise into a social activity is that it gives you a strong support system to motivate you, challenge you to push yourself, and keep you accountable. It’s much harder to wave off gym class and stay on the couch when you know your friends will be there.
Feel Good
Humans are wired to be social animals. Our brains literally have a built-in reward system for establishing bonds with others. There is a hormone produced by our hypothalamus called oxytocin that’s sometimes called “the love hormone” or “the cuddle hormone.” This is a neurotransmitter that gets released during moments of social connection, physical touch, and/or intimacy. When we feel close to someone, that feeling of trust and relaxation triggers the release of oxytocin, which induces a pleasurable feeling in the body. It literally makes us feel good to be friends with someone!
Article by Austin Brietta
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