As humans we have an inherent desire to be close to other people, to connect, and to form relationships with them – and healthy relationships are a crucial component of health and wellbeing (for both mental and emotional wellbeing). Relationships are often the glue that holds us together during difficult times, it helps us to handle stress, and assist in living a meaningful life. On the other hand, the health risks from being alone or isolated in your life are comparable to the risks associated with cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity.
A positive relationship can be shared between any two people who support, encourage, and help each other. It is however important that it does not come down to only one relationship, even though just having one or two strong healthy relationships in your life can already have a positive effect on your health. It is best to rather focus on having a network of social support with a variety of different types of relationships (romantic, friendships, colleagues, community, etc).
When having relationships, we tend to gravitate towards people who are a lot like ourselves (as we might share relatable careers, the places we frequent, an exercise program or fun activities, etc). That means that we should have relationships so that we can have people that can help us to be better and to show us the ways to change. It shows us how to love and be loved, who we want to be in life and who we don’t want to be.
Men and women need relationships in different capacities, for different reasons, and in the way we formulate lasting bonds with others. Women are much more emotionally connected and invested and rely on girlfriends for things like parental advice, someone to help with our children’s development, and learning how to be better at life and in relationships. Men are not nearly as emotionally invested when they engage in certain activities like going to the gym or watching sporting events together. They are easier at compartmentalizing their feeling, and they move faster in relationships.
There are a few benefits to healthy relationships, of which the following are a few:
- It helps you to deal with stress better:
The support offered by a caring friend can provide a buffer against the effects of stress. Knowing someone loves and supports you when you’re going through your day or a tuff time, is a mental health booster.
Being in a committed relationship is also linked to less production of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. This suggests that the social and emotional support that comes with having a good partner can be a great buffer against stress. - It can help you to be healthier:
Research indicates that strong relationships contribute to health at any age. A study found that people who feel they have friends and family to count on are generally more satisfied with their personal health than people who feel isolated. Furthermore, hanging out with healthy people increases your own likelihood of being healthy as it has been shown that healthy habits spread through our social networks. If your spouse or friends encourage you to eat a healthy diet, to exercise, or to stop smoking, you are more likely to do so. Therefore, surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you.
A little emotional support can also go a long way towards helping a person to recover from a procedure or an illness. - It gives you a greater sense of purpose:
Most people strive to feel like they are doing something good or helping to improve someone else’s life. Being in a relationship where other people depend on you (no matter what kind of relationship), can give a person a sense of well-being and purpose. - It might help you to live longer:
A review of several studies found that people with strong social relationships are fifty percent less likely to die prematurely. - You might even feel richer:
A study found that doubling your group of friends has the same effect on your wellbeing as getting a fifty percent increase in your income.
Here are a few tips for a healthy relationship:
- Listen to each other without preparing your response and connect without judgement.
- Trust and respect each other.
- Remember that you’re not speaking to yourself – try to understand where the other person is coming from and how they understand the world.
- Consistently make time for each other.
- Remember details about each other’s lives.
- Engage in healthy activities together.
- Work as a team, rather than as separate individuals.
- People in healthy relationships have the discipline to not treat their counterpart poorly just because they are close.
- Avoid focusing on what they want to get from the other person, but instead focus on you can help each other.