Be Friendly and Live Longer?

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Be Friendly and Live Longer?

by Allen Unrau

Will Keeping in Touch with old Friends Guarantee to Keep you Younger?

Are well-tended relationships part of a “long life formula?”

Can you fight aging by staying as close to as many family members as possible?

Do you Want to Live a Rich Long Life?
Then make some friends and plan to spend some quality time with them on a regular basis. A recent study of older adults in the British Medical Journal shows that seniors who spend quality time among friends live longer, happier lives than their non-social peers. Social activities such as volunteering, dining with friends or just socializing with others reduces stress, enhances well being and creates a sense of personal worth and belonging.

You Don’t Have Time For Friends?
It’s easy to get wrapped up in your daily routine and say that you don’t have time for friends, but people connections are so important to your health that making time for friends should be a priority. An active social network helps you fight feelings of loneliness and isolation. Having good friends has even been shown to help prevent depression.

When friends call to invite you out with them, don’t automatically say no. Sometimes you get into the habit of declining invitations and do so without even thinking. Even if you don’t feel like doing something when they call, accept the invitation anyway. Once you join them, you’ll be glad you did. Plan to have “regular” outings with your friends – at least once a week for socializing. It’s a wonderful prescription for your physical and mental health.

Get out and socialize and build your “friendship bank” for the future. The more people you interact with daily, the more chance there is to form new bonds. As you age, you will lose friends for various reasons, so plan ahead now. Make your social network a priority and you will be rewarded with a lifetime supply of “good as gold” friendships.

If you haven’t seen certain friends for a while, call someone right now and make a date to get together. Maintain the network of friends you do have and set a goal to make new friends whenever you can. If possible, broaden your social network to include a variety of people of all ages. Being involved in the lives of younger folks with go a long way to keeping you healthy as well.

Do People Who Give Actually Live Longer?
According to a study about to be published in Psycholigical Science, older people who are regularly helpful to others reduce their risk of dying by over 50 percent compared to peers who provide no practical or emotional support to relatives, neighbors or friends. Give and live - this sounds like a good plan!

Stay in Touch with Relatives and Strengthen Those Family Ties!
As you grow older, families and extended families tend to scatter across the country and even around the globe. Do your best not to lose touch. Families are forever. They are there for you through good and bad, providing emotional and practical help when you need it. Always be available to them when they need your support as well. If your family has developed some “broken fences,” fix them quickly. Life is too short.

Get involved with clubs, volunteer organizations or active social groups. This is a comfortable way to meet lots of new people who share your goals and interests. You will always “click” with someone when you join a group.

Some things that lead to longevity can’t be measured in a test tube. They are free and they are up to you.…

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Allen Unrau writes a weekly column relating to "reallife" seniors issues in Abbotsford BC. He is actively involved as a volunteer with numerous seniors' organizations in the Fraser Valley. He is a grandfather of eight and works as a licensed realtor specializing in seniors Real Estate...helping seniors and their families with the purchase or sale of homes in the Fraser Valley.

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