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Having good friends is great for your health and could actually increase your lifespan, a number of studies have found. And it's not difficult to see why.
Good friends are not only companions, they also provide support, boost self esteem, help relieve stress, encourage eating well and exercising, and discourage unhealthy behaviours such as smoking and heavy drinking.
But good friendships do not happen spontaneously. You have to work at them, as you do with any relationship. They do need to be nurtured.
You cannot expect people to be there for you when you need them unless they've been able to rely on you in the past. Pick up the phone, send an SMS, organise a night out, cook dinner for someone. Even if you don't feel like it right now, you will always be pleased afterwards if you took the trouble.
21 things good friends do
Good friends are not only companions, they also provide support, boost self esteem, help relieve stress, encourage eating well and exercising, and discourage unhealthy behaviours such as smoking and heavy drinking.
But good friendships do not happen spontaneously. You have to work at them, as you do with any relationship. They do need to be nurtured.
You cannot expect people to be there for you when you need them unless they've been able to rely on you in the past. Pick up the phone, send an SMS, organise a night out, cook dinner for someone. Even if you don't feel like it right now, you will always be pleased afterwards if you took the trouble.
21 things good friends do
