Flying off with your besties somewhere sunny and beachy always makes you feel pretty damn good, doesn’t it?
Imagine this – going on holiday with your girls is not only boosting your mood, but it could also be the key to your happiness!
The social-personality psychologist, Dr. William Chopik, claims that healthy friendships are contributing to your happiness more so than other types of relationships. His theory is that friendships are the relationships we chose ourselves. He shares with Well + Good:
“You choose to hang out together because you enjoy each other’s company.”
Indeed, spending time with friends can be emotionally revitalizing.
But what is it about girls’ vacays that improves so much your physical and your mental health?
Explaining the health benefits of friendships, Dr. Chopik says that one of the greatest things about them is spending real quality time together. Going on vacation with your girlfriends isn’t only about drinking exotic cocktails and getting tan on some fine beach. It is also about being physically together, looking at each others’ eyes, communicating through real emotions, and not just digital emoticons.
“You can sit down, look them in the eye, have a true back-and-forth and read each other’s body language. They can see you and your facial expressions.
You’re emotionally responding to things and you can pick up on their emotions. You don’t always get that through a phone call.”
As we grow older, we realize that life has its limits, and if we don’t spend enough time with the people we love now, we’re going to regret that later. You don’t have to constantly go on holidays to be happy. You can just have a vacay with your girls once or twice a year to do some real catching up, and to make sure your friends’ group wouldn’t eventually fall apart.
According to a recent Harvard study, “Good connections and social support can improve health and increase longevity.”
This means that spending time with your loved ones not only soothes your soul and makes you happier, but it also works great for your well-being.
So call your girls, pick a sunny destination, and get those plane tickets. You deserve to spend some meaningful time with your friends.
And what better time than the holiday season?
After all, if doctors say vacations with besties are making us healthier and happier, we have to listen to them!
