Prioritise friendship:
Friends are a great sources of stress relief and not having them is bad for your health – a US study found it’s the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Join a club, or form your own:
The reason we make most of our friends at school or work is because we see them all the time: consistency is the best way to form lasting bonds. Starting a book club or a dinner club is a great way to get to know people you only see fleetingly.
Go on a friendship date:
When you meet someone you think you could be friends with, make the first move and ask them out for a drink, or to join you for a weekend activity.
Keep in contact:
Social media makes it too easy to take a passive interest in our friends’ lives, so make a phone call and arrange to meet up. The friendships that stand the test of time get stronger as we get older. A little bit of effort every now and then may be all you need.
Words by: Emma Clifton
Photos: Thinkstock
