In today’s busy world, most people barely have time for their favorite person. Who would you call if you got that highly coveted promotion at your workplace or grad school scholarship? On the other hand, who would you meet for a shoulder to lean on in case it all came tumbling down? Who would you visit unexpectedly and still have a great time, laughing, making weird but hilarious observations and serious talks about life?
All manner of happy relationships sustain our spirit and keep us going through the turbulence of life. From hustling everyone out in the morning, helping your kids board the bus, saying bye to your spouse in the morning, and hanging at one coworker’s desk over a tea break, these small interactions seem small, but have remarkable benefits for your health and well-being.
A positive relationship can be shared between two or more individuals who value each other and offer emotional support and friendship. Such relationships are characterized by:
1. Listening and open communication
2. Spending quality time together and participating in fun and healthy activities
3. Respect and trust
4. Knowledge of vital details about each other, as well as the willingness to keep secrets confidential
Below are some proven benefits to sustaining happy relationships:
A longer lifespan
If you want to live longer and have a chance at throwing a ball with your grandkids, then start nurturing your relationships now. Married individuals, especially men, have been found to live longer than their unmarried counterparts. This phenomenon is attributed to reduced stress and the increased motivation to live a healthy life. If someone, for instance, had a child on the way from a spouse they genuinely care about, they will be more inclined to stop drinking and substance abuse to ensure a healthy environment for the new family, compared to someone living alone.
Lower blood pressure
A love connection may make your heart race in anticipation of seeing them again, but this is nothing compared to the health benefits the connection will have for your heart. Being in a stable relationship alleviates all the anxiety and stress associated with loneliness and will keep your blood pressure within the normal range. The extreme negative emotions associated with loneliness can trigger hypertension. In addition to stable blood pressure, people in happy relationships are more likely to engage in healthy activities with others, such as sports, marathons, and other physical activities that are good for a healthy heart.
Motivation to remain fit
It goes without saying that a fitness regimen is often more successful and fun if enjoyed with a friend or significant other. If you have a friend you trust, you can urge them to join you on a fitness journey and run together, which will provide a boost to stay on track. Visiting the local gym with someone and working the weights together should also provide for healthy bonding time. Undertaking a fitness regimen alone may work, but when it becomes tough and painful to visit the gym, you’re highly likely to avoid going altogether or even stress-eat, thus taking you many steps back.
Reduced stress
Being in a committed relationship with someone you trust reduces stress due to the emotional support and company that comes with being with a partner. If you have a partner or friend you can rely on whenever things aren’t going as you’d want them to, you’re less likely to get consumed by stress and mental fatigue than if you had to handle it by yourself.
Better treatment outcomes
People in healthy relationships have been found to bounce back quicker than people who don’t have it. It helps to have someone visit you while in the hospital when you’re ill. Their presence and encouragement will give you the motivation to get out of bed and try walking, eat solid food, and take your medication on time. Studies conducted on patients that have undergone heart surgeries have revealed that married patients are three times more likely to survive the first three months after their procedures than their single counterparts. Moreover, married patients also revealed that they experienced less anxiety and more confidence in their outcomes. The knowledge that someone else is looking forward to your recovery, and is taking time to visit and offer emotional support is invaluable to a patient.
A sense of belonging and purpose
All humans have an innate need to belong somewhere, and if you have a home and family waiting for you or a group of friends that makes you feel valued or as part of them, you get a sense of belonging. By having this sense of belonging, you’ll feel motivated to do and be better, so that you may represent your group or family in a positive light.
Reduced chances of engaging in substance abuse and inappropriate sexual behavior
This tip especially applies to college students and young adults, who are highly likely to be plagued by social isolation upon leaving home for school and workplaces. Loneliness, for such young people, triggers painful feelings of fear, anxiety, and low self-esteem. To escape these negative emotions, one may choose to abuse drugs or engage in harmful sexual activities for temporary euphoria. By getting a relationship with someone you trust and love, you can have a healthy sexual relationship you can build by visiting cammiesonthefloor.com. Moreover, rather than turn to drugs and alcohol for stress relief, you can talk to your significant other or enjoy the company before you find a way of dealing with the stressor.
Conclusion
As human beings, the relationships we form with other people are essential for all-around health and well-being, with significant emotional, social, economic, and mental health benefits. If you’re introverted and prefer to hang alone at home, that’s alright, but you’re encouraged to go out there and meet someone. The social connections you make will bring untold transformation to your emotional well-being, and will boost your confidence and self-esteem.
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