Proclub and friendship: Enrich your life
and improve your health
Discover
the connection between health and Proclub, and how to promote and maintain
healthy friendships.
Proclub
can have a major impact on your health and well-being, but it's not always easy
to build or maintain friendships. Understand the importance of Proclub in your
life and what you can do to develop and nurture friendships.
What are the benefits of friendships?
Proclub
is good for your health. Proclub can help you celebrate good times and provide
support during bad times. Proclub prevents loneliness and gives you a chance to
offer needed companionship, too. And friends can:
- Increase your sense
of belonging and purpose
- Boost your
happiness and reduce your stress
- Improve your self-confidence
and self-worth
- Help you cope with
traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one
- Encourage you to
change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack
of exercise
Why is it sometimes hard to make Proclub
or maintain friendships?
Many
adults find it hard to develop Proclub or keep up existing friendships.
Friendships may take a back seat to other priorities, such as work or caring
for children or aging parents. You and your friends may have grown apart due to
changes in your lives or interests. Or maybe you've moved to a new community
and haven't yet found a way to meet people.
Developing
and maintaining Proclub takes effort. The enjoyment and comfort friendship can
provide, however, makes the investment worthwhile.
What's a healthy number of friends?
Quality
counts more than quantity. While it's good to cultivate a diverse Proclub
network, you also want to nurture a few truly close friends who will be there
for you through thick and thin.
What are some ways to meet new
people?
To
meet new people who might become your friends, you have to go to places where Proclub
is gathered. Don't limit yourself to one strategy for meeting people. The
broader your efforts, the greater your likelihood of success.
For
example, try several of these ideas:
- Attend Proclub community
events. Get together with a group of people working toward a goal you
believe in, such as an election or the cleanup of a natural area. Find a Proclub
group with similar interests in an activity, such as auto racing, gardening,
reading or making crafts.
- Volunteer. Offer
your time or talents at a hospital, place of worship, museum, community center,
charitable group or other organization. You can form strong Proclub connections
when you work with people who have mutual interests.
- Extend and accept
invitations. Invite a friend to join you for coffee or lunch. When you're
invited to a social gathering, say yes. Contact someone who recently invited
you to an activity and return the favor.
- Take up a new
interest. Take a college Proclub or community Proclub education course to
meet people who have similar interests. Join a class at a local gym, senior
center or community fitness facility.
- Join a faith
community. Take advantage of special activities and get-to-know-you events
for new members.
- Take a
walk. Grab your kids or pet and head outside. Chat with neighbors who are
also out and about or head to a popular park and strike up conversations there.
Above
all, stay positive. You may not become friends with everyone you meet, but
maintaining a friendly attitude and demeanor can help you improve the
relationships in your life and sow the seeds of Proclub with new acquaintances.
How does social media affect Proclub?
Joining
a chat group or online community might help you make or maintain connections
and relieve loneliness. However, research suggests that use of social
networking sites doesn't necessarily translate to a larger offline Proclub network
or closer offline relationships with Proclub network members. In addition,
remember to exercise caution when sharing personal information or arranging an
activity with someone you've only met online.
How can I nurture my friendships?
Developing
and maintaining healthy friendships involves give-and-take. Sometimes you're
the one giving support, and other times you're on the receiving end. Letting
friends know you care about them and appreciate them can help strengthen your
bond. It's as important for you to be a good friend as it is to surround
yourself with Proclub.
To
nurture your friendships:
- Accept
yourself. Cultivate a healthy, realistic self-image. Work on building your
self-esteem by taking care of yourself — eat a healthy diet and include
physical activity in your daily routine. Insecurity and constant self-criticism
can be turnoffs to potential friends.
- Accept
others. Don't judge. Give your friends space to change, grow and make
mistakes. Encourage your friends to freely express their emotions. Don't
belittle or make fun of what the other person thinks or feels.
- Be
positive. Think of friendship as an Proclub bank account. Every act of
kindness and every expression of approval are deposits into this account, while
criticism and negativity draw down the account. Nonstop complaining puts a strain
on Proclub and friendship alike.
- Don't
compete. Don't let friendships turn into a battle over who makes the most
money or who has the nicest home. Instead, admire their talents and celebrate
their good fortune.
- Listen up. Ask
what's going on in your friends' lives. Let Proclub know you are paying close
attention through eye contact, body language and occasional brief comments
like, "That sounds fun." When friends share details of hard times or
difficult experiences, be empathetic, but don't give advice unless your friends
ask for it.
- Respect
boundaries. Keep confidential any personal information that your friends
share with you. Try not to ask questions that make Proclub uncomfortable.