What are some of the things that make you happy? You wouldn’t be alone if you listed healthy relationships as one of your sources of happiness.

Science proves that healthy relationships are a great benefit to overall health. In this case, women have been found to benefit greatly from spending time with their friends.

Road trip, anyone?

Harvard Women’s Health Watch reports that social connections “not only give us pleasure, they also influence our long-term health in ways every bit as powerful as adequate sleep, a good diet, and not smoking.”

Having a close group of friends benefits both physical and mental aspects of one’s life. For example, having friends is associated with less stress and reducing one’s chances of being depressed. In other words, you’ll boost your mood and overall happiness.

On the opposite end, if you tend to be more isolated and don’t maintain healthy relationships with others, you risk depression, late-life cognitive decline, and a shorter lifespan. A lack of positive social interaction with others can create harmful levels of stress.

Another study in 2012 revealed that a lack of strong social ties can increase the risk of dementia by 50%, depending on how lonely the individual felt. That’s equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes every day.

In an unusual study, they were able to link pain tolerance to the size of one’s social circle. Who would have thought that the size of one’s social circle could predict one’s ability to tolerate pain?

There’s also evidence that shows that when enjoying time spent with others, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin.

Oxytocin helps the brain communicate feelings of happiness and belonging. Thus, the more oxytocin one has, the happier one tends to be. Thus, it’s like a cycle. People tend to want to spend time with others who are happy and if you’re happy when spending time with your friends, others are going to want to spend time with you.

However, some people are not able to make friends with others as easily as others are. If you’re naturally shy, work from home, or simply have to maintain a busy schedule, building healthy relationships might be difficult.

But it is worth a try. Today, social media makes it a bit easier to reach out to our loved ones. Still, the best way to reap the health benefits of friendship is to physically be around them!

As people grow older, that might seem impossible. Particularly for those who have families of their own. The best thing to do in this situation is to make time. Though it sounds easier said than done, it is possible if all the parties put in the effort.

William Chopik, a psychologist from Michigan State University, stated, “Keeping a few really good friends around can make a world of difference for our health and well-being. So, it’s smart to invest in the friendships that make you happiest.”

Even Forbes Travel Guide spoke with Dr. Oz who shared that women who go on more trips are “less likely to become tense, depressed or tired and are happier with their marriages.”

All in all, it might be time to consider making more time for your friends so you all increase your chances of living longer and healthier lives. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of fun!

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Sources: Southern Living, TipHero, Shareably