Time to Socialize

by Leslie Aronson

Next time you hit the trails, consider taking a friend along with you. Socializing and having fun are key to your mental and physical health, according to Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal and reported by Body + Soul. "They protect you from heart disease, stress, depression, and even colds." With these kinds of benefits, why not combine the social with the physical and multi-task a little? Having a buddy along can help push you through a difficult workout, and having a friend to talk to undoubtedly helps the time go faster. You can try multi-tasking with other hobbies as well. If you're into bird-watching, for instance, consider seeking out more challenging locations to search for your feathered friends and make it a workout as well as an enjoyable outing. Other potentially more solitary activities like gardening can be more healthful if you invite a friend over to help. If your friends don't share the same interests, consider finding a group or connecting with others online. Craigslist.com, sierraclub.org, and meetup.com all offer networking potential to help you connect with others who have similar interests. And if there's any way you can brainstorm to make your hobby of interest a little more physical - do it.