Friendship:
A Wellness Habit We Rarely Schedule
By: Emma Edmonds
From finding the perfect diet to choosing from thousands of workout routines, wellness culture has given us more options than ever before. With so many choices, the pressure of doing it all becomes overwhelming, especially since most people can’t keep up with every habit. Although these routines are beneficial, there is an essential piece we overlook constantly. We make wellness so complicated, but one of the most powerful improvements to our health is hidden in plain sight: friendship.
The Health Benefits of Friendship
Friendship is just as important as any other tool in our wellness routine. According to the World Health Organization, social connection can decrease health risks and strengthen communities. Loneliness has grown significantly in recent years, even being declared as a national social disconnection epidemic in the United States by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. High levels of loneliness have been linked to higher risk of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, and dementia. However, Jeanne Calment, who lived to be 122 years old, credited her longevity to olive oil, a nightly glass of port, frequent laughter, and a resilient attitude. If that isn’t proof that connection and joy deserve to be in our wellness routine, what is?
The need for human connection is not only natural, it’s essential. These findings point to an attainable and positive conclusion: we must treat friendship and social connection as a priority, not just a choice. These connections must be nurtured and discussed more openly, not just in doctors’ offices, but in our everyday lives.
Why Adult Friendship Gets Harder
Adults do not just stop valuing friendships; it’s that the natural ways of bringing people together shift into adulthood. In early years of life, friendship is almost automatic. Friendships peak during what researchers call “emerging adulthood,” around ages 18 to 29. These years are filled with opportunities for connection like school, college, and early jobs, according to Psychology Today. Once these settings disappear, friendships start to evolve and become much more difficult. Here’s what is surprising: the loneliest age group isn’t teenagers or the elderly; it’s adults between 30 and 44. Of this age group, 29 percent said they were frequently lonely. Busy schedules, relocations, and starting families are common and positive experiences in adulthood, but they do make maintaining and nurturing friendships much more difficult. The friendship gap isn’t a sign of disregard; it is simply the natural result of a part of life where social connection is not built for us.
The Practice of Friendship
There is a silver lining to all of this. Friendship is no longer something that just happens; we now get to choose who belongs in our life. When we go to the gym or follow a diet, it doesn’t just happen out of nowhere; we choose these habits. Friendship works the same way; it requires discipline and showing up. The first step is to recognize friendship is worth protecting and prioritizing. This might mean marking our calendar for a monthly dinner just like scheduling a workout or even being the first to reach out instead of waiting. These small steps do not need to be perfect; they just need to be consistent. It can be as simple as waving to a coworker or greeting a neighbor, and even those small interactions can boost our mood and sense of belonging. And when it comes to deeper friendships, quality matters far more than quantity. We do not always need a full social calendar; we just need a few people who are genuine and who we show up for in return.
In adulthood, friendship is not a luxury that only a few can experience. Friendship is almost as natural as sleep; it is wired in us. It just requires a little more intention. The gestures do not need to be big; they just need to have a genuine intent. Sending a text, going on a walk, or getting a coffee with a friend are not just small moments; these are what create memories and build relationships. Most of the time, ordinary moments with friends are the most cherished memories. The next time we think about our wellness routine, we should try to remember that there is one habit that has always been there. That is to pick up the phone, send a text, make a friend.