Quality Time A Love Language

QT for Family, Friends and Yourself

Research shows that spending time with friends and family makes a big difference when it comes to happiness. Social time is especially important for happiness, even for introverts. Spending time with those nearest and dearest to you is one of the best ways to feel happier. And it works better than money – if only we could get paid for spending time with them!

Spending time with family and friends, who are usually supportive, can make it easier to deal with stress. As Harvard happiness expert, Daniel Gilbert explains: “We are happy when we have family, we are happy when we have friends and almost all the other things we think make us happy are actually just ways of getting more family and friends.” It’s been said that money can’t buy you happiness, but there are other things like spending time with your loved ones - that usually make us happy.

1. Spending time with family and friends relieves stress: According to a study by Carnegie Mellon University, individuals who spend more time with family and friends tend to have better coping mechanisms when it comes to handling stress. They tend to use their social group as a stress buffer, allowing them to communicate their stress instead of seeking negative coping mechanisms like alcohol and tobacco. 

2. Helps your overall well-being: Social groups provide emotional support, which helps you feel better about yourself. In fact, people who view their friends and family as supportive tend to have a greater feeling of meaning in life and a stronger sense of purpose than those who did not.

3. It’s great for heart health: Stress can encourage the development of inflammation in the arteries, which is a precursor to clogged arteries. A study found that when individuals have the support of family and friends, they actually have a lower pulse and blood pressure which, in time, helps to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Photo by Jessica Rockowitz on Unsplash

We don’t know how much time we have left in this world. If I were you, spend every day like it’s your last, and yes, with family and love ones!