Actively invest time and effort into your relationships, as this is identified as the best long-term payoff for your life, significantly contributing to happiness, health, and longevity.
Prioritize nurturing high-quality relationships because they are one of the most powerful factors for long-term health and happiness, with an impact comparable to serious health risks like smoking and obesity.
Actively care for your physical body, recognizing it as a long-term investment you will need for your entire life.
Maintain both frequent contact and high-quality interactions with important people in your life. Frequency prevents relationships from withering, while quality provides stress reduction, energy, and affirmation.
Strive to develop at least one or two “securely attached relationships” where you feel someone will genuinely be there for you in times of trouble, which combats loneliness and provides crucial support.
Distribute your emotional and social investment across multiple people rather than solely relying on one primary partner. This allows you to gain diverse benefits like fun, confiding, and self-discovery from various connections.
Regularly assess your relationships and intentionally make adjustments to how you invest in them, rather than letting them passively drift. This ensures active maintenance and prevents them from withering due to neglect.
Actively “exercise” your relationship muscles by intentionally allotting time and energy to connect with important people. This is crucial as relationships, especially friendships, can wither from neglect amidst modern distractions.
Engage in acts of generosity and kindness towards others, such as expressing appreciation or doing helpful deeds. These actions provide significant emotional and physical benefits to the giver, fostering joy and connection.
Actively adapt to the changes in others and try new activities together within your relationships. This keeps long-term connections fresh, prevents staleness, and supports mutual growth.
Cultivate “radical curiosity” by genuinely trying to understand others’ experiences, motivations, and perspectives without judgment. This deepens connections, helps you appreciate differences, and makes others feel valued.
Be present, attentive, and show genuine interest in what others are experiencing, even if you don’t fully understand it. This communicates care and makes people feel seen, heard, and appreciated.
Leverage good relationships as a supportive base that provides encouragement and the confidence to take risks and try new experiences. This allows for personal growth knowing you have backup.
Be proactive in scheduling social interactions, such as walks or dinners, with people you want to keep current with. This intentional effort is necessary to prevent relationships from withering due to busy schedules.
Reach out to someone you miss or have lost touch with by sending a simple text, email, or making a call to say you were thinking of them. People are often thrilled to hear from you, and it’s an easy way to reignite connections.
Prioritize spending quality time with loved ones over excessive work commitments. Many people on their deathbeds regret not spending enough time with family and friends, making this a crucial life decision.
Understand that it is never too late to improve your relationships or build new connections, regardless of past experiences or current feelings of isolation. Taking action now can significantly impact your life.