Reaching half a century is a milestone – a time when we're wiser, calmer and more confident. But life may also feel at its most demanding.
This is the age of the sandwich generation when many of us are supporting elderly parents while raising kids – not to mention juggling jobs, partners, and health issues. It is, quite possibly, when we need our friends the most, but friendships are often the ball we drop and many of us are a bit hapless when it comes to knowing how to make new friends as an adult. We may be too busy to maintain long-term friendships, especially if distance is a factor, or too tired to nurture new acquaintances. Yet research shows friendships should be a priority. Feeling socially connected helps us live longer, says science journalist and author, Lydia Denworth. "Our bodies and brains are hardwired for friendship because there are evolutionary advantages to being good at making and maintaining friends," she says. "It improves cardiovascular functioning, our immune system, cognitive and mental health, our stress responses and the quality of our sleep."
