By Carol Bruess for We Humans
Most of us intuitively know that having close, supportive relationships is important to our general happiness and well-being, and decades of scientific research confirm that human connection not only affects our mental health but is also a key determinant to how long we’ll live and how physically healthy we’ll be during those years.
As Robert Waldinger PhD, the director of the long-running Harvard Study of Adult Development (aka “the longest study on happiness”), says in his TED Talk, “People who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community are happier; they’re physically healthier; and they live longer than people who are less well connected.”
And we’re not just talking about your intimate, family and spousal relationships. All types of human connection — from the social to the professional, from the people you volunteer with to the man behind you in line at the grocery store — count.
The good news: Making small changes in our relationships can yield big results.
Change the words you’re thinking about other people
Create tiny moments of positivity during your day
When you and your partner argue, hold hands with them (really!)
Ask an open-ended question of someone in your life every day
Schedule time to spend with your best friends
Deliver an overdue apology
Read the full article here for details on each small change.