THRIVE

Friends

Humans are social creatures, so forming healthy, respectful relationships is important for our happiness and wellbeing. However, relationships have never been more complicated. Social media is helping us to stay connected but is making us unsocial? Loneliness is at an all-time high and excessive screen time can have a negative impact on social skills. So, whilst social media might give us the updates on major life events it doesn’t offer the level of connection to our friends that we desperately need. Spending quality time with our friends can offer great companionship and support. A good friend is someone that:

  • is there for you, no matter what
  • doesn’t judge you
  • doesn’t put you down or deliberately hurt your feelings
  • is kind and respectful to you
  • is someone whose company you enjoy
  • is loyal and trustworthy and willing to tell you the truth, even when it’s hard for you to hear
  • laughs with you
  • sticks around when things get tough
  • makes you smile
  • is there to listen

https://au.reachout.com/articles/what-makes-a-good-friend

Tips

Making and keeping friends requires work. There are some simple things you can do.

To make new friends

  • Be approachable. Try smiling and saying hello.
  • Join a club or sport. Team sports or hobbies can be a great way to meet people.
  • Ask people questions about themselves. When we learn more about others it can help us identify common interests or shared experiences.
  • Invite them to do something. It could be taking a dog for a walk or taking your children to a play date.

To maintain friendships

  • Listen to them- When your friend is talking to you, try to stop what you are doing and listen to what they are saying. You can let your friend know you are listening by asking them questions about what they are saying.
  • Make time for them- In our busy lives it can be hard to find time to catch up with our friends. Schedule in time to do something fun with your friend. If you can’t physically see them, schedule time to chat on the phone.
  • Be there for your friend- We all experience ups and downs so if your friend is going though a tough time be there for them, ask them what they need or how you can help them.
  • Show them gratitude- It can be really nice to let our friends know how much we care about them and how important they are.
  • Communication is important- All relationships experience challenges so if something is troubling you be open and honest with your friend.
  • Be kind to yourself- Your relationship with yourself is an important relationship too. By taking the time to look after yourself, you can help teach yourself how to look after others as well.

Resources

https://headspace.org.au/young-people/connecting-with-others-for-a-healthy-headspace/

 

A guide to maintaining friends https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDWLRcV7Tgg