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Life gets busy, and our social lives are the first thing to suffer. You need to make time for friends, and here’s why.
Yes, life gets busy. We’re constantly needed by someone. As work at home moms, it’s all about work and our children. Trying to fit anything else in gets difficult.
It’s important to make time for friends, though. You want to include the people you care about in your life. This doesn’t mean you have to see them on a weekly basis, but it’s worth setting something up to see them at least monthly.
And then if you can’t physically see them, make sure you make time for them to chat. This is going to do you and them some good.
Build a support network when you make time for friends
We can’t live life in a bubble. We all need someone to lean on, and that’s not always easy to find. The more time you make for people in your life, the easier it will get. You have an opportunity to find a support network.
In some cases, this will be physical. You’ll have someone to help you with any medical needs that may arise or to help with pet or child care. In other cases, it’s mental. You have someone there to help with the emotional support you need.
Life throws all sorts at us. Fostering healthy connections is a great way to get through it. The more time you make for the right people, the more time they will make for you too.
Your friends make time for you too
If friendships become a one-sided thing, people aren’t really going to make time for you. They will find someone else to talk to and turn to when they need support. As they realize that you only reach out in a time of need, they’re going to be less and less responsive.
People need to feel valued. Think about what you want from a friendship. The same will apply to you. As you see that people aren’t making time for you, you’re probably going to make less time for them.
So, you want to make sure you put effort in. You may realize that it is one-sided on your part, and then it’s fine to step back. However, if you realize that friends are putting the effort* in, you definitely need to reciprocate.
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Boost your self-esteem and confidence
Our friends are there to have our back. When we’re not feeling great about ourselves, who do we turn to? Our friends are there to help support us and give us a boost to our mental health at a time of crisis. They help to boost that positive image of ourselves, which is essential in so many walks of life.
Then there’s the confidence that we gain. When we’re supported by likeminded people, we feel like we can do anything. There’s more confidence in following a dream or going for a job promotion. We have more confidence to do a hobby or take a solo trip.
Make time for friends to encourage healthy habits
Our friends (or lack of) will influence our life choices. Some are better than others.
If you’re on your own a lot, you won’t have someone to talk to when the negativity can creep in. This leads to thoughts of overindulging in the bad. We can take a break from the gym and drink more. Or we end up struggling with bad habits like smoking.
With the right friends around us, we have people who help to encourage a healthier lifestyle*. This doesn’t mean stopping us from treating ourselves once in a while. There’s nothing wrong with having dessert. However, if all you eat is candy and there’s no nutrition to your diet, friends can be there to help see that and get you back on track.
Would you like to learn how to meal prep? Having a friend who does it and making time for them will help you learn. They’re more likely willing to help you with that because you help them with something else.
Our lives have more meaning when we have friends, and we see it in the way we live.
We gain new perspectives on life
You don’t want to be stuck in your own bubble. I’ve always said that people who stay with the same friend groups from high school and remain in the place they grew up have a very small view on the world. They’re more likely to be racist, homophobic, or just generally bad people. I tend to use the phrase “they peaked in high school” a lot for these types of people.
And there’s a truth in it. When you make time for friends, you want to really listen to the things they’re saying. Learn from them. Make time for people you didn’t grow up with so you learn more about the world.
Friends can help you challenge the way you look at the world because of their perspectives. Maybe they travelled a lot, or maybe they have a different religion. They may come from a more or less affluent background, affecting things.
You’ll also have an impact on them. There are times that people get so in their own bubble that they don’t see how something looks from a different point of view. It’s a great way to learn more empathy, and the more curious you become, the more you’ll want to learn in the future.
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How do you make time for friends? What have you learned from yours? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
